In the News

May 2008

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Funds Cardiovascular Health Program With $1M Grant
Baltimore Business Journal - May 29

Mentoring may be the way to strengthen the health of black men with cardiovascular disease. That's the thought of the School of Pharmacy and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, which said Thursday they will partner to educate and encourage black men in Greater Baltimore to improve their cardiovascular wellness. The program, called Maryland cardio-Vascular men's health PromotionýMVP for shortýwas made possible by a $1 million grant from CareFirst, Maryland's largest health insurer.
www.bizjournals.com

Israeli Company Opens Office in Rockville
The Gazette - May 30

Before leaving for Israel, Gov. Martin OýMalley spoke last week at the Bioscience Industry Initiative Conference at the University of Maryland BioPark in Baltimore. The conference, part of the Governorýs Workforce Investment Boardýs Center for Industry Initiatives, attracted business leaders and government officials to discuss the industryýs increasing work force needs. Among the recommendations made at the conference to aid work force goals were improving outreach to untapped talent sources, including veterans leaving the military; developing better competency and training models, especially focusing on basic work skills; and creating a pipeline of young entry-level workers, according to Eric Seleznow, the boardýs executive director.
www.gazette.net

Local Schools Offer Homeland Security Courses
The Daily Record - May 30

Maryland colleges and universities now feature a wide range of classes that focus on biodefense, information systems, and national security in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In addition to homeland security courses offered at the School of Law, experts at the Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS) travel across the country to teach state and local emergency response officials how to maintain essential functions in the wake of a disaster. Alexandra Podolny, JD, associate director of policy and training for CHHS, said, "Some jurisdictions we go into, people are on top of it." Podolny added, ýWhen we traveled to the Gulf region, they were so affected by [Hurricane] Katrina and they had plans. On the other end of the spectrum, people may have plans that are outdated or missing big chunks of information.ý
(To read this story, contact the Communications office at ext. 6-7820, or respond to this e-mail.)

Networking to Fight Baltimore Heart Disease
The (Baltimore) Examiner - May 30
The Daily Record - May 30

Free heart health care and treatment will be offered to 40 black men in Baltimore. But only if they pass newfound good health habits on to a few friends. The School of Pharmacy, using a $1 million CareFirst grant, hopes to ultimately get 600 black Baltimore residents into treatment for high blood pressure over the next three years. ýIt kills more men in Baltimore than crimes and violence each year,ý said Fadia Shaya, PhD, MPH, associate professor at the School. Heart disease killed 576 black men last year in the city. The Maryland cardio-Vascular menýs health Promotion, or MVP, builds on the success of Hair, Heart and Health, a CareFirst program in Baltimore and Washington, led by Elijah Saunders, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine.
(To read this story, contact the Communications office at ext. 6-7820, or respond to this e-mail.)

Oil Prices Drop After Announcement of Investigation
WBAL Radio, 9:30 a.m. - May 30
CNN News, "American Morning," 7:42 a.m. - May 30

Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and former director of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), discussed the recent drop in oil prices of more than $4 a barrel. "It is clear there is a connection between the fall of prices and the CFTC's announcement of this investigation," he said. Yesterday the CFTC made public an investigation of U.S. oil markets and with a focus on possible price manipulation.

Rain Pryor Continues Her Father's Legacy
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13. 6 p.m. - May 29
WJZ.com - May 29

Rain Pryor, whose father, comedian Richard Pryor, battled multiple sclerosis for nearly two decades, will demonstrate her commitment to finding a cure by presenting her one-woman show, ýPryor Experience,ý at the Hippodrome Theatre on June 6. The jazz cabaret performance will benefit the Maryland Center for Multiple Sclerosis, a decades-long leader in patient care and innovative research, part of the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "The problem with MS is that one's immune system is overactivated and it's activated against the nervous system," said Walter Royal, MD, associate professor at the School. Royal, director of the MS center, explains there is no cure for the disease and current drugs are only effective in a third of patients. Scientists in Baltimore are working to develop new drugs and to explore the potential of therapies like vitamin D. "People who live in areas where Vitamin D intake is low may be at a higher risk of multiple sclerosis," Royal said.

State Institutions Pumping Up 'CSI For Real' Offerings
The Daily Record - May 29

A college forensics lab might have a little less sizzle than televisionýs CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, but thatýs where students are honing their skills to fight the bad guys. Schools across the country have pumped up their offerings in fields like biodefense, information systems, and national security ever since the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. . . . At the University of Maryland, Baltimore, students can take some homeland security courses through the School of Law, but the major security movement is through the Schoolýs Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Suicides in Army Increase by 13 Percent
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 30

In a tragic new marker of the rising cost of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army's suicide rate has jumped significantly, according to a report released yesterday at the Pentagon. University of Maryland social worker Jesse Harris, PhD, MSW, MA, former dean of the School of Social Work and a retired Army officer who pioneered work with military families, said experts are "rather puzzled at the alarming rate [of increased suicides], and we are trying to get a grip on it."
www.baltimoresun.com

Chief Geneticist Steps Down
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 29

The government's leading geneticist announced yesterday that he is stepping down after 15 years, paving the way for the growing role that DNA will play in medical care. As director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, Francis Collins, MD, PhD, led the successful effort to sequence the human genome and helped secure a new law, signed just last week, barring discrimination based on genetic information. He also shepherded significant advances in understanding the genetic causes of common diseases, while attempting to reassure a public concerned about the ethical implications of the fast-moving developments. Karen H. Rothenberg, JD, dean of the School of Law, who often collaborates with Collins, said it wasn't easy to run a government science institute. "It's a lot to ask anybody to be in such a political position and serve so many heads of NIH and politicians for so long," she said
www.baltimoresun.com

City Moves to Ban Small Cigars
WBAL Radio "The Ron Smith Show," 5:53 p.m. - May 28

Kathleen Dachille, JD, assistant professor at the School of Law and director of its Center for Tobacco Regulation, Litigation and Advocacy, spoke at a news conference held at City Hall on May 28 on the issue of banning small cigars, which tend to be flavored and geared toward young people, to prevent sales to teens and adolescents.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Foreign Dentists to be Trained at UMDS
Maryland Med (Sunýs medical blog) - May 28

Dentists from Honduras, India, Jordan, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the West Bank will take part in a training program for Operation Smile at the University of Maryland Dental School. The dentists will be in Baltimore to receive training May 29 and May 30. The program will be led by William Davidson, DMD, PhD, clinical professor in the Department of Orthodontics. The University has developed a new mouth simulator specifically for the course, which simulates a cleft palate patient.
weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Fundraising Success Creates Culture of Philanthropy
Red Orbit - May 28

Two groups of students and recent alumni of the School of Law have raised close to $70,000 in cash and pledges for the School. The money will be matched by two local lawyers. The success of both projects "is really creating a powerful culture of philanthropy here," said Teresa LaMaster, JD, AM, the Schoolýs assistant dean for institutional advancement. She said the goal is "having the students and everyone understand that, even as a public university, private philanthropy is an important part of what they are receiving as part of their education." This year's graduating class has raised $35,000 toward a class gift, which was matched by a donation from Tydings & Rosenberg LLP partner John Isbister, JD.
www.redorbit.com

Lawmaker Paved Way for Subprime Meltdown
MotherJones.com - May 29

With home foreclosures nearing epic proportions, MotherJones.com argues one man should shoulder most of the blame: Phil Gramm, former senator from Texas. He sponsored the Commodity Futures Trading Act of 2000, which, once passed, allowed banks to continue transferring risk associated with subprime mortgages through the unregulated credit default swaps market. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said unregulated swaps are at ýthe heart of the subprime meltdown.ý Greenberger said: ýI happen to think Gramm did not know what he was doing. I don't think a member in Congress had read the 262-page bill or had thought of the cataclysm it would cause.ý
www.motherjones.com

Letter to the Editor: Research Needed on Managing Doses
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 29

Ilene Zuckerman, PharmD, PhD, and Priscilla Ryder, PhD, MPH, who are, respectively, the associate dean for graduate studies and research and a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Pharmacy, wrote a letter saying, "We need more research into ways to ensure safe medication management for those in residential care."
www.baltimoresun.com

Speculators Play Major Role in Raising Price of Gas
C-SPANýs Washington Journal, 7 a.m. -May 27

As gas prices continue to rise at a record pace, there is a growing debate over where to place the blame. Oil executives told Congress last week that supply and demand accounts for most of consumersý pain at the pump, but Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said thatýs not the case. Greenberger argues that 30 percent of the cost of each gallon of gas is the result of excessive speculation. ýThe markets are completely dysfunctional, out of control, being manipulated in an upward fashion so that the American consumer is paying for crude oil, heating oil, gasoline, propane gas, in a way that has no relation to supply and demand,ý said Greenberger. He will testify before Congress on this issue on June 3.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Supreme Court Ruling, Congressional Testimony on Rising Gas Prices
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - May 28

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that workers can sue if they experience retaliation after claiming discrimination in the workplace. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said the decision is important because two conservative judges surprisingly sided with four liberal judges, and ýpeople who complain about discrimination often get retaliated against, the EEOC is overwhelmed with retaliation cases.ý Also, Greenberger will testify June 3 in front of the Senate Commerce Committee, where he will argue that speculators are driving up the cost of crude oil by trading futures on opaque markets. "Gas prices are at least 30 percent over what they would be if these markets were policed," Greenberger said.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Bypass Surgery Made Healthier, More Economical by Da Vinci Robot
YAHOO News Homepage-ABC news story - May 28

Researchers have noted that bypass surgery done by the da Vinci Robot is more beneficial to oneýs health than a traditional surgery is. It has been observed that patients whose surgeries have been done by the robot recuperate faster with very few chances of post-operative complications. "These findings are significant because payers are considering linking reimbursement for coronary artery bypass surgery to patient outcomes," says Stephen Bartlett, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine and chief of surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com

Downtown Enjoys Construction Boom
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 28
The (Baltimore) Examiner - May 28

Consider the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), an anchor on downtown's west side. UMB will open a new administration building in about four months, will finish renovating its old School of Social Work building next year, and expects to complete a campus center around January 2010. Construction will begin in earnest this summer on a pharmacy school annex, and the University is hoping that next year it can start designing a new health sciences research facility. "I'd say in the last 10 years, ý our campus has built over a billion dollars of new construction," said Angela Fowler-Young, director of capital budget and planning at the University. The rest of downtown has been catching up.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com

Investigators Find Gaps in Port Security Program
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. - May 27
Wjztv.com - May 28

A new report shows port security across the country may be lacking in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. With hundreds of cargo ships coming into the Port of Baltimore, loaded with containers from around the world, the new government report finds major gaps in homeland security. "If terrorists are taking a gamble, they have a 95 percent chance sneaking something through," said Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former senior official in the Justice Department. He's concerned for Baltimore's safety and criticized federal port security programs two years ago. That's when we revealed only five percent of cargo coming into the country is actually physically inspected.
wjz.com

Laughter Helps People 'Yuk' Their Way to Better Health
Newhouse News Service - May 27

Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, found that people with healthy hearts were more likely to use humor and laughter than people with heart disease. In another study, Miller found that people who watched funny movies like There's Something About Mary had increased blood flow to the heart compared with those who watched sad movies like Saving Private Ryan.
www.newhouse.com

Nancy Gordon Named Employee of the Year
GBC Newsletter - May 28

David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, president of University of Maryland, Baltimore, named Nancy Gordon, senior director of university events, Employee of the Year for her work and leadership in organizing annual events such as Founders Week and the Commencement Exercises, and for her work on the developing, sales, and kick-off of the fundraiser UMB Cooks cookbook.
www.gbc.org

Flu Shots Leave an Age Gap
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 26

Increasingly, researchers are looking for flu vaccines for the elderly because they are most likely to develop pneumonia and other life-threatening complications if they catch the flu. "About 90 percent of the people killed by the flu are the elderly, so those are the people we want to help," said Wilbur Chen, MD, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Fundraising Success Creates Culture of Philanthropy
The Daily Record - May 23

Two groups of students and recent alumni of the School of Law have raised close to $70,000 in cash and pledges for the School. The money will be matched by two local lawyers. The success of both projects ýis really creating a powerful culture of philanthropy here,ý said Teresa LaMaster, JD, AM, the schoolýs assistant dean for institutional advancement. She said the goal is ýhaving the students and everyone understand that, even as a public university, private philanthropy is an important part of what they are receiving as part of their education.ý This yearýs graduating class has raised $35,000 toward a class gift, which was matched by a donation from Tydings & Rosenberg LLP partner John Isbister, JD.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Laughter Helps People 'Yuk' Their Way to Better Health
The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer - May 27

Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, found that people with healthy hearts were more likely to use humor and laughter than people with heart disease. In another study, Miller found that people who watched funny movies like There's Something About Mary had increased blood flow to the heart compared with those who watched sad movies like Saving Private Ryan.
www.cleveland.com

Learning How to Say, 'I'm Sorry'
Harvard Mental Health Letter -March 2008

Anyone who's had to apologize for something knows how difficult it can be to get the words out. Yet an apology is often the first step toward repairing a damaged relationship, be it personal or professional. Although not all clinicians agree on this point, apology may be a prerequisite for forgiveness. Some clinicians integrate formal apologies into couples or family therapy. For example, Frederick DiBlasio, PhD, MSW, professor at the School of Social Work, has published a step-by-step strategy to foster forgiveness between adult children, their siblings, and parents.
www.tmsinternational.com

Lessons in Neuroscience: Theory Meets Reality in the Back Seat of a Taxi
The (Montreal) Gazette - May 27

Something funny happened on the way to the International Brain Bee. Two of the 16-year-old contestantsýElena Perry of Bethesda, Md., and Krithi Sundaram of Bangalore, Indiaýgot the third degree from a taxi driver with a third degree of his own. They were heading to an anatomy lab at McGill University and a close encounter with the human body's most complex and fascinating organ. 'The brain is the final frontier," said Norbert Myslinski, PhD, associate professor at the Dental School who launched the competition a decade ago to raise awareness and prod more teenagers to consider careers in neuroscience. Myslinski says his pet project has spread, with national brain bees now held in more than a dozen countries including Egypt, Romania, Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria.
www.canada.com

Sure It Matters, But It's Only Money
The Daily Record - May 27

New law school graduates who will start at big firms in the fall say the money was important in determining where they chose to work, but it was not the only factor. "I'm not going to lie," said School of Law graduate Sebastian Kurian, JD, who will practice at Miles & Stockbridge P.C. He said money played a big role in accepting the position, but while Miles & Stockbridge pays extremely well, it doesnýt pay as well as some other firms in the area. Nina Basu, who just got her J.D. from Maryland and will work at McGuireWoods, LLP, said she knew she wanted to work at a well-regarded firm with an office in Baltimore.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Today's Newsmakers:: Nancy Gordon
The (Baltimore) Examiner - May 24

David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, president of University of Maryland, Baltimore, named Nancy Gordon, senior director of university events, Employee of the Year for her work and leadership in organizing annual events such as Founders Weeks and Commencement Exercises and for her work on developing, sales and kick-off of the fundraiser UMB Cooks cookbook.
(To read this story, please contact the Communications Office at ext. 6-7820, or respond to this e-mail.)

Baltimore vs. Vegas: Counting the Cranes
The Daily Record - May 22

A fun way to try and gauge the health of a cityýs economy is to go somewhere high upýa skyscraper, an observation deck, a roller coasterýand count cranes. The last time writer Robbie Whelan took the elevator to the top of Baltimoreýs World Trade Center, which must have been about six months ago, he recalls being able to count the number of cranes on one handýand they were mostly concentrated in Harbor East, the east Baltimore Science + Technology Park, and the Westside University of Maryland BioPark.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Brain Cancer Survival Hard to Predict, Doctors Say
The (Baltimore) Examiner - May 23

Itýs impossible to know how well Sen. Edward Kennedy will carry out his duties or how long heýll live, experts say. ýWe have to recognize that all malignant brain tumors are not the same," said Barry Meisenberg, MD, professor at the School of Medicine. "There's a whole spectrum of malignancy that makes some of them very aggressive while others you could survive a long time."
www.examiner.com

Columnist Ties One Law to Soaring Gas Prices
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - May 23

What you pay at the pump could be a direct result of energy speculation and price manipulation. Columnist Ed Wallace argues that the public has been misled by investors who deceitfully blame supply and demand. Wallace echoes Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, who has testified before Congress three times since 2006 on this issue."Should we have an economy thatýs based on whether people make good or bad bets? Or should we have an economy where people build companies, create manufacturing, do inventions, advance the American society, and make it more productive?"
www.star-telegram.com

New School of Law Adjunct Professor Joins Firm
The Baltimore Business Journal - May 23

Michael Berman, JD, former deputy chief of the Maryland Attorney General's Office of Civil Litigation, is joining law firm Rifkin Livingston Levitan & Silver LLC. From 2001 until early this year, Berman occupied the second-highest position in civil litigation for the state, working on complex civil suits in trial and appellate courts. Berman has worked for the past several months as senior counsel to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. He frequently speaks on legal issues dealing with electronically stored information and is an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he co-teaches a workshop on electronically stored information. This fall he will be an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Law.
www.bizjournals.com

Details on Service, Donations for Hamilton Jordan
AJC.com (Atlanta) - May 22

Hamilton Jordan, the chief of staff of former President Jimmy Carter, died after a long battle with mesothelioma. In lieu of flowers the family asks that your donations be sent to any of the following charitable organizations: The Hamilton Jordan Mesothelioma Research Fund at the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc. and University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center. Hamilton was aggressively treated both locally and globally by the world's leading mesothelioma experts, including Richard Alexander, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.ajc.com

Images Show Possible Abuse at Closed Juvenile Facility
WBALTV.com - May 21
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 11 p.m. - May 21

The WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team obtained photos that have never been seen by the public that raise troubling questions about a controversial juvenile detention facility that's currently the center of a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. "It's nothing you should see anywhere," said Susan Leviton, JD, a professor at the School of Law. She said she has seen juvenile facilities all over the state, but said nothing was like the Lower Shore DRILL Academy. "Having people drink until they vomit. What is the purpose of that?" she said.
www.wbaltv.com

Man Who Survived Brain Tumor Holds on to Hope
WJZ.com - May 21
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 5 p.m. - May 21

Sen. Ted Kennedy is out of the hospital and back at home after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. In Kennedy's case, doctors have only mentioned radiation and chemotherapy, which leads School of Medicine Assistant Professor Young Kwok, MD, to believe surgery is not an option. "Typically, the larger the tumor, the less likely it can be fully removed," Kwok said.
wjz.com

'Lion' of Senate Has Brain Tumor
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 21
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11 - 5, 6, and 11 p.m. - May 20
wbaltv.com - May 20
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13 - 4, 5, and 6 p.m. - May 20
wjztv.com ý May 20

Edward Kennedy, the U.S. Senate's second longest-serving member and one of the most powerful political figures of the past half-century, has been diagnosed with a type of brain cancer that usually proves fatal. Half of patients with a stage III tumor are alive three years after diagnosis, and about 20 percent survive five years, according to William Regine, MD, chief of radiation oncology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a professor in the School of Medicine. The outlook for patients with stage IV cancer is worse: "Half pass away roughly within a year of diagnosis, and one in four are alive two years," Regine said. "Probably less than 5 percent are alive five years." An interview on the same subject by WBAL-TV was done with Barry Meisenberg, MD, also with the medical center and a professor in the School. To view a video of the television stories, click on the link below. Real Player is required.
media.umaryland.edu:8080
wjz.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Commodity Trading Drives Up Cost of Groceries, Gasoline
Los Angeles Times - May 21

Congress has promised to crack down on seemingly unregulated commodities trading, which could be to blame for the soaring cost of oil and its subsequent trickle-down effect. While some economists and investors disagree and point the finger at a growing gap between supply and demand, other experts say Congress is taking a step in the right direction. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, "You've got futures exchanges that are rife with the ability to manipulate and excessively speculate." Greenberger added: "Congress firmly believes that they've got to bring this speculation under control. And it is my thesis that if these markets were policed, the prices would drop very rapidly."
www.latimes.com

Film Scholar at the Forefront of a Womenýs Sexual Health Issue
Diverse - May 21

While discussions on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections saturate public health forums, human papillomavirus (HPV) has yet to garner equitable attention. ýHPV is very common. HIV programs get more funding [and attention] because people think that people will die of HIV, whereas HPV could cause cancer over many years,ý says Niharika Khanna, MD, MBBS, associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the School of Medicine.
diverseeducation.com

Paterson Undergoes Eye Surgery for Glaucoma
The New York Times - May 21

New York Gov. David Paterson underwent surgery on Tuesday to relieve sharp pain that doctors determined was caused by glaucoma. Glaucoma generally refers to two types of eye disorders that can cause vision loss because of increased pressure in the eye. The type Paterson has is the less common and more painful of the two, said Joanne Waeltermann, MD, an ophthalmologist and clinical professor at the School of Medicine.
www.nytimes.com

Prescription for Diabetes Management: Keep it Simple
The (Baltimore) Examiner - May 21

Baltimore-based WellDoc Communications is testing a cell phone-based system that charts blood-sugar levels, sends that information securely to a doctor and provides instant feedback for the patient about how to improve his or her health. Charlene Quinn, PhD, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine who is leading the WellDoc trials, said ease of use and access were two key factors in the improvements they published. ýUsing the cell phone to collect important clinical information about the patientýs diabetes also enables the patient to communicate in an easy fashion with their health care provider,ý Quinn said.
www.examiner.com

U.S. Tortured Terror Suspects Despite Warnings
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. ý May 21

An internal audit from the Justice Department found CIA and military interrogators ignored warnings from the FBI that contended their methods of questioning terror suspects were borderline torture. Agents observed abuses at military prisons in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said torture is not only against the law, itýs counterproductive. ýCarrying these tactics out in a way that borders on torture only leads people to say things that may not be true to stop the torture, or to stop the intensive interrogation techniques,ý says Greenberger. ýIt doesnýt lead to good intelligence and it embarrasses and holds in low esteem the United States of America.ý To view a video of this interview, click on the link below. Real Player is required.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

10 First-Aid Myths
Wisdomwater - May 10

Cutting the skin of a snakebite victim to suck out the poison may be a classic first-aid technique, but doctors now say itýs useless and even dangerous. ýCutting and sucking, or applying a tourniquet or ice does nothing to help,ý says Robert Barish, MD, vice dean for clinical affairs at the School of Medicine. The outdated measures ýmay do more harm than good by delaying prompt medical care, contaminating the wound or by damaging nerves and blood vessels,ý Barish says
wisdomwater.blogspot.com

Aggressive Behavior In Children
Advance for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists - May 20

Children who are neglected before their second birthday display higher levels of aggressive behavior between ages 4 and 8, according to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study. Early-childhood neglect may be as important as child abuse for predicting aggressive behavior, researchers say. Neglect accounts for nearly two-thirds of all child maltreatment cases reported in the United States each year, according to the Administration for Children and Families. Howard Dubowitz, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, is among the studyýs authors.
speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com

Columnist Ties One Law to Soaring Gas Prices
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - May 19

What you pay at the pump could be a direct result of energy speculation and price manipulation, and columnist Ed Wallace argues that the public has been misled by investors who deceitfully blame supply and demand. Wallace writes that the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 effectively deregulated the energy futures market, which set the stage for windfall profits for a few industry bigwigs at the expense of consumers. Wallace echoes Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, who has testified before Congress three times since 2006 on this issue. In December 2007, Greenberger told a House committee, "Three, four months from now, youýre going to have a hearing on the subprime meltdown, and youýre going to find that the very same legislation [deregulating energy] deregulated something called collateralized debt obligations, CDOs."
www.star-telegram.com

Doctors Move to Limit Gifts From Drug Firms
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 20

When Barry Meisenberg, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, attends lunchtime medical talks at the University of Maryland Medical Center, he usually doesn't eatýnot even a carrot or a potato chip. He abstains to avoid what he sees as a conflict of interest. The talks are often sponsored by pharmaceutical and medical device companies, which supply the food, too. Meisenberg decided a decade ago that taking gifts or moneyýincluding food, travel expenses, and payments for speeches and researchýcould cloud his judgment about how to treat patients.
www.baltimoresun.com

Dog-Friendly Restaurants
Dining@Large (The [Baltimore] Sun blog) - May 6

Sun restaurant critic Elizabeth Large writes: ýI found a story by Tricia Bishop in our archives about the issues raised. In it she reported: ýWhile Parisians are known for taking their dogs everywhereýrestaurants tooýBaltimore is no Paris, and health professionals say there are some good reasons for prohibiting pets.' 'There's always the issue of [fleas], feces, urine, shedding hair, that kind of thing and how would you control that,'" said Laura Hungerford, PhD, DVM, MPH, a professor of epidemiology at the School of Medicine.
weblogs.baltimoresun.com

Electronic Pillbox Helps Seniors Stick to Drug Regimens
AJC.com (Atlanta), via HealthDay - May 7

Older adults following a medication regimen are less likely to miss doses when reminded by an electronic pillbox that both beeps at the appointed drug-taking time and announces the number of pills to take and how to take them, new research reveals. The study, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging, was presented recently at the American Geriatrics Society meeting in Washington, D.C., by co-authors Vesta Brue, founder and chair of Lifetechniques Inc., and Priscilla Ryder, PhD, MPH, a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Pharmacyýs Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research.
health.usnews.com

Evidence-Informed Practice Resources for Field Instructors
EBP Exchange - May 15

One of the challenges of keeping practice evidence-informed is the high cost of journal subscriptions, especially for agencies that do not have many resources for such purchases, writes Dean Richard P. Barth, PhD, MSW. Building on work done at the University of Michigan, the School of Social Work has identified some resources that can be used by field instructors from publically available open access settings. Fortunately a growing number of journals are open access and all articles published with the support of the National Institutes of Health will soon be availableýafter a 12-month delayývia PubMed Central.
ebpexchange.wordpress.com

Graduates Celebrate Success
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 17

At 1st Mariner Arena, Francis Collins, MD, PhD, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, delivered the keynote address and a song to about 1,200 of 1,800 graduates of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the state university system's downtown graduate campus.
www.baltimoresun.com

History of Lupus Erythematosis
Michigan Lupus Information and Resources - May 15

Marc Hochberg, MD, MPH, professor at the School of Medicine, writes: ýThe history of lupus can be divided into three periods: the classical period which saw the description of the cutaneous disorder, the neoclassical period which saw the description of the systemic or disseminated manifestations of lupus, and the modern period which was heralded by the discovery of the LE cell in 1948 and is characterized by the scientific advances noted above.ý
lupusmichigan.blogspot.com

International Brain Bee
9:40 AM, Montreal - May 20, 10:40 a.m.

Norbert Myslinski, PhD, associate professor in the Dental School, was interviewed live on a Montreal radio station about the International Brain Bee, which will be held in that city on Monday, May 26. Topics touched on the origins and purpose of the event, some sample questions, and whether a person with an old brain can make a good president.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Judge Bruce Lamdin Sanctioned
Above the Law - May 14

District Court of Maryland Associate Judge Bruce Lamdin has been accused of running his court like a mean-spirited stand-up comedy routine. Yesterday, the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities sanctioned him, suspending him for 30 days without pay. School of Law professor Andrew Levy, JD, tells The (Baltimore) Sun that "being a judge is not a license to be rude and abusive to people."
abovethelaw.com

Judge Fader Explains 'Not Criminally Liable' Plea
WBAL-TV, Ch 11 ý 5, 6, and 11 p.m. ý May 19
Wbaltv.com - May 20

A Rockville man indicted in the slayings of his three children at a Baltimore hotel has entered a plea of "not criminally responsible." John Fader, JD, a retired judge and instructor at the School of Law, explained what the plea means and the mental examination process that is the result of the plea.
media.umaryland.edu:8080
www.wbaltv.com

Prescription Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal Info - May 12

United States Pharmacopeia standards require that vitamins meet quality and content standards to become prescription vitamins. However, according to a study of prescription prenatal vitamins conducted by the School of Pharmacy, only three out of nine prescription prenatal vitamins were found to release the amount of folic acid that it was claimed they contain.
prenatalvitamins.wordpress.com

Swaps Market Could Scuttle Economy
Bloomberg.com - May 20

Worth more than the New York Stock Exchange, the swaps market protects an estimated $62 trillion in debtýbut if the banks that trade those swaps go under, investors could lose billions. The price of credit-default swaps skyrocketed when Bear Stearns Companies Inc. was on the verge of collapse in March, as investors scrambled to insure their assets that were securely fastened on a sinking ship. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, "People who were relying on Bear for their own solvency would've started defaulting," and ýthat would've triggered a series of counterparty failures. It was a house of cards.ý
www.bloomberg.com

Graduate Knows All About Carrying a Full Load
The Washington Post - May 17

There is no easy explanation for how Sylvia Spady-Viney managed to get her master's degree Friday from the School of Social Work. She's 58, a full-time Prince George's County social worker, a full-time mother to two of her grandchildrenýone of whom has cerebral palsyýand, for the past three years, a full-time student in Baltimore. Add up the hours commuting, studying, working, and parenting, and that doesn't leave a whole lot of time for such basic needs as sleeping and eating.
www.washingtonpost.com

The Art of Appellate Advocacy: Milestones and Tombstones
The Daily Record - May 19

In a semi-regular column, Andrew Baida, JD, an adjunct professor of appellate advocacy at the School of Law, continues his tips for writing briefs.

Travel Expenses Questioned
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 18

Gov. Martin O'Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown have spent more than $172,000 in taxpayer dollars since taking office last year on trips for state business and political events around the country, and to foreign locales from Ireland to China, according to travel records obtained by The Sun. Critics first questioned O'Malley's travel last year when the governor flew to Dublin to give a speech to the Chamber of Commerce and attend festivities in honor of Robert Gallo, MD, who co-discovered the AIDS virus and heads the Institute of Human Virology at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

U.S. Takes Aim at Gas Prices
Reuters - May 16

In an effort to battle record fuel costs, the U.S. Energy Department will stop adding to its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Congress forced the Bush administrationýs hand after passing legislation last week, which demanded that stockpiling cease until oil falls below $75 per barrel. But Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and a former director at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said this move will only provide short-term relief for consumers. "In the long term, gasoline prices will soon continue their rapid rise,ý said Greenberger, ýbecause those prices have little relationship to supply/demand factors [and] are being manipulated upward by energy traders."
www.reuters.com

U.S. Will Triple Port Security Grants for Md.
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 17

The Department of Homeland Security tripled its grant this year for security at Marylandýs ports, sending $6.6 million to the state. The money will be used for an updated video surveillance system and technology that keeps tabs on truck traffic at the Port of Baltimore. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the boost in funding is long overdue considering Baltimoreýs proximity to the nationýs capital. "The state and city worked very hard to put in a first-rate application that would support the funding that was needed," Greenberger said. "They worked very hard to make sure that the mistakes made by the federal government were not repeated."
www.baltimoresun.com

25 Years of Triathletes
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 16

Even after 25 years of organizing the Columbia Triathlon, Robert Vigorito, MS, gets emotional about the race. Vigorito, known to nearly everybody as Vigo, was born in Connecticut and moved to Howard County in 1976. He is director of the brain bank at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the School of Medicine. In that job, he helps scientists find cures for diseases such as autism by working with brain donors.
www.baltimoresun.com

Heart Device Recipients Not Aware of Recalls
U.S.News & World Report - May 15

Two new surveys suggest that many heart patients with implanted devices aren't aware of recent recalls and don't understand the dangers they might face. "We need to do a little better job and find better means of talking to our patients," said survey lead author, Timm-Michael Dickfeld, MD, PhD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine, and director of electrophysiology at the Baltimore VA Medical Center. He is the lead author of one of two surveys. "They seem to like to have the physicians talk to them more, and explain these things more, and not leave it up to the media or the TV to inform them."
health.usnews.com

They're Mad, and Proud of It
St. Petersburg Times - May 16

A conversation about mental illness stretches from college campuses to community health centers, from YouTube to online forums. Many psychiatrists now recognize that patients' candid discussions of their experiences can help their recoveries. "Problems are created when people don't talk to each other," said Robert Buchanan, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and chief of its Outpatient Research Program at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. "It's critical to have an open conversation."
www.tampabay.com

Cover Story on State Salaries in Higher Education
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - May 14

The University of Maryland, Baltimore campus is mentioned briefly in a lengthy report on salaries at the 13 campuses of the University System of Maryland (USM). The story includes an interview with a USM official who explains that the salaries come from a variety of sources, not just taxpayer money and student tuitions.
www.foxbaltimore.com

Cyril Enwonwu: Newsmaker
The (Baltimore) Examiner - May 15

Cyril Enwonwu, ScD, PhD, MDS, professor at the Dental School, will deliver the opening plenary lecture at the International Noma Federation conference on May 22 in Geneva, Switzerland. Enwonwu is the leading researcher into noma, a disease in which the spread of a gangrenous lesion destroys facial tissue. It can be treated with antibiotics if caught. Noma affects more than 100,000 children living in the poorest regions of Asia, South America, and sub-Saharan Africa.
(To read this story, please contact the Communications office at ext. 6-7820, or respond to this e-mail.)

Elaborate Life Science Parks Progress Along the Eastern Seaboard
Site Selection Magazine - May 15

In a review of new biopark construction along the Atlantic coast, it is reported that Paragon Bioservices, a contract research company for pharmaceutical and biotech firms, will be moving from the Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus to the biopark at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, which dedicated its second building and broke ground for the third in early April. Paragon executives say the Bayview site did not have room for expansion. Paragon will move into its new 21,000-square-foot space near the end of the year.
www.siteselection.com

Energy Speculation Targeted by Farm Bill
PBS Nightly Business Report, 7 p.m. - May 14

On top of farm subsidies and expanded funding for food banks and school lunch programs, the $307 billion farm bill sitting in Congress calls for more federal regulation of energy speculation. Some lawmakers on both sides of the aisle believe energy futures trading on opaque markets could be driving up costs for consumers, while lining the pockets of a small number of investment insiders. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security who previously served on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, said, ýThe whole impetus of the farm bill amendment affecting energy futures trading is premised on a thesis that we are paying much more for our energy products than supply and demand would dictate.ý
www.pbs.org

Immigrants Sedated During Deportation
The Washington Post - May 14
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - May 14

An investigation by The Post found the U.S. government gave psychiatric drugs to immigrants during the deportation processýwithout medical reason. One document revealed so-called ýpre-flight cocktailsý were used to sedate and incapacitate immigrants against their will, which is a violation of international human rights. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, said this debacle further taints the United Stateýs image across the world. ýItýs a huge embarrassment for the Bush administration and for the country,ý Greenberger said. ýThis only adds to the undercutting of our reputation as an abider by the rule of law.ý
www.washingtonpost.com

O'Malley Takes Regional Approach
Site Selection Magazine - May 15

Gov. Martin O'Malley recently discussed his vision for the state with Site Selection. The governor said biotech is an area in which Maryland has R&D muscle, including new biotech parks under way at Johns Hopkins and near the University of Maryland, Baltimore. "Every state wants to call themselves the biotech or life sciences capital," says OýMalley, ýbut few have the [close proximity of the research institutions] in Maryland.ý
www.siteselection.com

Very Small Studies Yield Big Recognition for Baltimore Scientists
The (Baltimore) Examiner - May 15

For the first time, the Maryland Science Center is honoring two female scientists who will be awarded the Outstanding Young Scientist and Outstanding Young Engineer awards at a ceremony today. Andrea Meredith, PhD, assistant professor of physiology at the School of Medicine, is the chosen scientist. She was honored for her work studying ion channels at the cellular level that regulate our sleep/wake cycle and how they affect other systems in the body. ýItýs not known how those single cellsý rhythms actually encode time and communicate it with the entire organism,ý she said. ýHormone secretions, feeding metabolism during meals, theyýre all tied to this [internal] clock.ý
www.examiner.com

A Little Sun Is All You Need for Vitamin D
The Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) - May 13

Once thought of as helping only to develop strong bones, vitamin D is now believed to serve many purposes in the human body. A deficiency of the vitamin has been linked to several diseases and disorders. Elizabeth Streeten, MD, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine, participates in a Q and A about the sunshine vitamin. ýVitamin D is important for the entire body. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with reduced bone strength; risk of fracture; a twofold increased risk of some cancers such as colon, breast and prostate; an increased risk of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes; worse control of diabetes for those who have it; decreased immune function; and possibly also heart disease,ý she said.
(To read this story, please contact the Communications Office at ext. 6-7820, or respond to this e-mail.)

Judge Punished for Profanity
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 14

The state's highest court suspended a Baltimore County judge yesterday for making profane and uncivil comments from the bench, issuing the harshest punishment for a Maryland judge in more than two decades and, observers said, sending a message to judges to watch their behavior. Andrew Levy, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law for more than 20 years, said he suspects the Court of Appeals was trying to send a message by upholding the judicial commission's recommendation. "Being a judge is not a license to be rude and abusive to people," Levy said. "Judges can be strict and can be no-nonsense. But this is about a judge seemingly willing to say anything that came to his mind."
www.baltimoresun.com

Seat Pleasant Lauds Wellmobile at Ribbon-Cutting
The Prince Georgeýs Sentinel - May 8
The Prince Georgeýs Sentinel - April 10

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new Wellmobile site at Seat Pleasant, Md., was held in May at the John E. Feggans Center. ýOne of the reasons we had the ribbon-cutting is to get the word out to the community to let them know that we will be here,ý said Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, an assistant professor at the School of Nursing and director of the Governorýs Wellmobile Program. ýWeýve had eight or nine patients today,ý said Steven ýChrisý Simmons, MS, CRNP, FNP, a clinical instructor at the School and nurse practitioner on the Wellmobile. ýWe expect to get more in the future.ý Simmons said the clinic deals with acute, commonly occurring illnesses such as respiratory infections, allergies, coughs, and provides screenings and tests for diabetes, high blood pressure, Pap smears, and prostate problems. "In African-Americans, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease and blindness," said Simmons.
(To read a copy of this story, please contact the School of Nursingýs Communications Office at 6-4115.)

Does CAM Work?
THonline.com (Dubuque, Iowa) - May 12
Telegraph Herald - May 12

The placebo effect might be responsible for the spotty successes claimed for acupuncture, acupressure, aromatherapy, reflexology, biofeedback, magnets, Chinese herbs, gingko balboaýin short, the whole range of products and practices called complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). Last year, R. Barker Bausell, PhD, a professor at the School of Nursing and formerly research director of the National Institute of Health, which funded clinical trials of acupuncture, wrote the book Snake Oil Science, The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine, published by Oxford University Press.
www.thonline.com

Exercise and Parkinson's Disease
WKRC-TV - May 13

The effects of Parkinson's disease and stroke can be debilitating. The conditions can make it difficult for patients to walk or control their bodies, therefore affecting nearly all of their daily activities. Insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are highly prevalent following a stroke, contributing to these patients' worsening cardiovascular disease after the attack and the predisposition for a repeat stroke. By having patients exercise regularly on a treadmill, researchers from the School of Medicine found patients were able to reduce insulin resistance, therefore reducing their risk of a repeat stroke. "Now we're interested to see if this same concept will work for other neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease," says Richard Macko, MD, professor at the School.
www.kcrg.com

Shock Trauma Handles Teen Accidents
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 11 pm - May 12

Thomas Scalea, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine and physician in chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, discussed accidents involving teenagers that bring them to the trauma center. One expert explained that teen brains are not yet fully developed. To view a video of this story, click here:
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Worth a Laugh
The Washington Post - May 13

Michael Miller, MD, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, has done research showing that laughter may have beneficial cardiovascular effects, just as stress has been shown to adversely affect cardiovascular health.
www.washingtonpost.com

Experts Step Up Debate Over Health Risks of Some Plastics
Nashua (N.H.) Telegraph - May 11

Many scientists and environmental advocates believe man-made components in plasticsýparticularly a group of compounds called phthalates and another hormonally active chemical known as bisphenol A, or BPAýcan leach harmful chemicals that get absorbed into our bodies. Some blame plastics for increased rates of cancer, asthma, neurological disorders, and infertility. "Most people haven't had college-level chemistry or advanced chemistry" to know what the alphabet soup of chemicals on labels mean, says Caroline Baier-Anderson, PhD, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine. Baier-Anderson also was online at www.washingtonpost.com on Tuesday, April 22, at 11 a.m. ET to discuss protecting your health against plastic products ladened with harmful chemicals.
www.nashuatelegraph.com
www.washingtonpost.com

Mental Health Findings Reported
Aging and Elder Health Week -May 11
Health Insurance Week - May 11
Health Insurance Law Weekly - May 11

In this recent report published in the journal Health Services Research, researchers in the United States conducted a study "to describe the extent of drug coverage among severely mentally ill Medicare beneficiaries and to determine whether and to what extent discontinuities in prescription drug coverage influence the use of medications used to treat serious mental health conditions. Analysis of two therapeutic classesýantidepressants and antipsychoticsýrevealed varying impacts of drug gaps on both probability of any drug use, as well as number of medications received among users," wrote Linda Simoni-Wastila, PhD, associate professor, and her colleagues at the School of Pharmacy.
To read a copy of this story, please contact the Communications Office at ext. 6-7820, or respond to this e-mail.)

Top Official Removed from Trial
ABC Nightly News, 6:30 p.m. - May 10

Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and director of the School's Center for Health and Homeland Security, was interviewed about the dismissal of a general from the military tribunal trial of suspected militants held at Guantanamo Bay. "We have still not seen the bad guys get the punishment they deserve, because the Bush administration has fumbled the ball over a seven-year period," said Greenberger.
www.abcnews.go.com

Mental Health: Deadly Stigma Remains
montgomeryadvertiser.com (Ala.) - April 27

The highest rate of suicide in the U.S., higher than among any other professional group, occurs among doctors. The problem, according to one doctor, is the stigma associated with mental illness. Also, many health insurance plans continue to provide less coverage for mental health issues than they do for other health matters. "The first objections to parity," according to Howard Goldman, MD, PhD, a professor at the School of Medicine, "were on the basis that mental disorders were not real and you shouldnýt cover conditions that arenýt real."
(To read this story, please contact the Communications Office at ext. 6-7820, or respond to this e-mail.)

Stem Cell Study Grants Awarded
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 9

Maryland has handed out its second round of grants for stem cell research, awarding a total of $23 million for 62 projects ranging from basic studies of the cells' properties to potential therapies for human disease. All told, 45 grants went to The Johns Hopkins University, including both the medical school and the Homewood campus. Sixteen went to the University of Maryland, including the School of Medicine, the biotechnology institute, and the main campus in College Park.
www.baltimoresun.com

Victim Notification
WBAL-TV, Ch.13, 6 p.m. - May 8

When a Prince Georgeýs County assault victim was not notified that her assailant had a sentencing appeals hearing, she asked the court to order a new hearing. Although the trial judge agreed to her request, the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled this week that the victim did not have standing in the case. Andrew Levy, JD, professor at the School of Law, explained that the court proceedings are between the judge, the state, and the defendant. The victim is appealing to the state legislature to change the law to give victims more rights.
media.umaryland.edu:8080

Careers in Health Care: Part II ý Hospitals Growing Nursing Opportunities
Baltimore Examiner ý May 5

Nursing students looking for the challenges and thrills that come with hospital work can add increased opportunities to the list of reasons for considering those employers. Chris Kuligowski, a junior in the BSN program at the School of Nursing, was attracted to the profession by the fast tempo of hospital trauma and critical care centers. The former chef said his preferred area of hospital work stems from a desire to always think on his feet. "Our professors encourage us to look at areas that are good fits for our personalities," he said.

Council Weighs Bill on Homes
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 8

A Baltimore City Council bill would permit more live-in drug treatment centers to open in residential neighborhoods. The legislation would allow residential drug abuse treatment programs and other group homes to open in any residential area as long as they shelter eight or fewer clients. The current zoning code requires City Council approval on a case-by-case basis for any homes with more than four residents. "It is now time for Baltimore City to come into compliance with the law," said Ellen Weber, JD, an assistant professor at the School of Law and an activist on the issue who filed a complaint with the federal government. "Baltimore City will simply never be a safe or healthy city until more residential treatment services are there."
www.baltimoresun.com

Domestic Violence Among the Elderly
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 6 p.m. - May 7

An 83-year old Howard County man with a history of verbal but not physical abuse toward his 81-year old wife attacked and beat her nearly to death with a hammer. Kelley Macmillan, PhD, MSW, an assistant professor at the School of Social Work, who focuses on aging, discussed behavioral changes within the elderly. "If an elderly loved one begins demonstrating changes in behavior, it is best to seek professional help as soon as possible," he said.
media.umaryland.edu:8080
www.wbaltv.com

Electronic Pillbox Helps Seniors Stick to Drug Regimens
U.S.News & World Report - May 7

Older adults following a medication regimen are less likely to miss doses when reminded by an electronic pillbox that both beeps at the appointed drug-taking time and announces the number of pills to take and how to take them, new research reveals. The study, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging, was presented recently at the American Geriatric Society meeting in Washington, D.C., by co-authors Vesta Brue, founder and chairman of Lifetechniques Inc., of San Antonio, and Priscilla Ryder, PhD, MPH, a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Pharmacy and in the Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research.
health.usnews.com

Names in the News
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 8

Martin Mintz, PD, FASCP, recently received the School of Pharmacy Dean's Hall of Fame Award for Distinguished Community Pharmacists. Mintz, a 1965 graduate of the School, owns Northern Pharmacy & Medical Equipment in Baltimore. The award was established two years ago.
www.baltimoresun.com

Women, Click Here for Good Health
CNN.com - May 8

CNN.com asked four women's health experts for their favorite sites on women's health. Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, clinical assistant professor of at the School of Medicine, recommends the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation Web site.
www.cnn.com

A Letter to the Editor: Worker Dangers as Detailed In a Play
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 7

Melissa McDiarmid, MD, MPH, a professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Schoolýs Occupational Health Program, wrote a letter commenting on an aspect of a theater review about a play depicting worker dangers. She wrote, ýSun theater critic Mary Carole McCauley would do well to do some fact-checking regarding the context of the new Center Stage production These Shining Lives before she posits the unlikely scenario of a company that ýdeliberately sets out to murder its workers.ý ("'Lives' Takes up Cause of Workers," May 3). In the play, the point that the company knew the dangers its workers faced is portrayed to the audience through a discussion of the high pay (especially for women's work) that the workers enjoyed as well as in the increasing discomfort the workers' immediate supervisor displays when he is confronted by his sickly work force.
www.baltimoresun.com

Birthday Buddies Help Children in Foster Care
St. Charles (Mo.) Journal - May 7

The Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition's Birthday Buddy program is the brainchild of volunteer Debbie Schoemehl of Sunset Hills and Shelley Thomas-Benke, director of FosterServe Volunteers. The program could make birthdays brighter for kids in the foster care system, and foster parents who are stretched financially. According to a 2007 study by the University of Maryland School of Social Work, the monthly stipend foster parents receive to care for kids would have to increase between 120 and 130 percent to approach the real cost of caring for a child.
stcharlesjournal.stltoday.com

Fast Gains Found in Giving up Smoking
The(Baltimore) Sun - May 7

People who have spent most of their lives smoking may derive health benefits within five years of quittingýdrastically reducing their chance of dying from a heart attack, stroke, or lung cancer, according to a study published today. In just five years, quitters reduced their added risk of dying of a heart attack by 47 percent and of lung cancer by 21 percent. Over time, their risk declined to the level of nonsmokers. "You stop smoking, and basically you're reversing this process," said Michael Miller, MD, an associate professor at the School of Medicine and director of the Center for Preventative Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.baltimoresun.com

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Garner Local and National Attention
WYPR, Newsroom - May 7

Inside a West Baltimore community center, about a dozen women and one man are sitting around a table. Over juice and donuts, they listen, talk, laugh, and cry, while discussing the challenges of raising children. Not their own kids, but their grandchildren. Roxanne McCoy, one of about 30 grandparents taking part in a program called Grandparent Family Connections, sponsored by the School of Social Work, finds support and solace within the group. Frederick Strieder, PhD, MSSA, a veteran social worker and associate professor at the School, who heads the program, says ýthis issue merits attention. In the state of Maryland, there are 131,000 children living with their grandparents. About 10 percent of all families.ý
www.publicbroadcasting.net

Chemical Imbalance Cited as Cause for Schizophrenia
Daily Press (Newport News, Va.) - May 6

Schizophrenia is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and typically hits women between the ages of 17 and 40, and men between the ages of 17 and 25, according to William Carpenter, MD, professor of psychiatry and pharmacology and experimental therapeutics at the School of Medicine. There are no cures for the mental illness, Carpenter said, but the earlier it's treated the better a person's chance of succeeding in life. "If it's a college student," he said, "you may be able to help them get through college and their first job. Even if the disease stays the same, they're better off for life."
www.dailypress.com

Evolutionary Intricacies of Rickettsia Pathogens Revealed
OBBeC.com - May 6

Researchers from the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech and the School of Medicine have unveiled some of the evolutionary intricacies of rickettsia pathogens by analyzing over a decadeýs worth of genomic data. The new data is publicly available via the PATRIC project Web site (patric.vbi.vt.edu).
www.obbec.com

Fever Alone No Cause for Fear
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 6

Many parents worry too much about the danger of childhood fevers and tend to overtreat even the mildest temperatures, according to research unveiled yesterday by Johns Hopkins doctors. A little fever, they say, may actually be good for kids. "Parents for some reason have gotten the message that fever is dangerous and haven't gotten the counter side, which is fever fights off infection," said Virginia Keane, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine. "Most of the viruses that infect us can't live at temperatures higher than 101 degrees. If you're not uncomfortable, it's good to have a fever."
www.baltimoresun.com

Woman Gives Father Gift of Life With Kidney Transplant
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 6

On April 9, LeKebra Clark and Gregory Bryant lay side by side in an operating room at the University of Maryland Medical Center as Stephen Bartlett, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, and chief of surgery, used tiny laparoscopic tools to remove Clark's kidney and insert it into her father.
www.baltimoresun.com

Author Equates Alternative Treatments with Placebo Effect
AMA-ASSN.org - May 12

Doctors may not realize it, but they are familiar with the reason for the apparent success of alternative and complementary treatments; they just call it the placebo effect, said R. Barker Bausell, PhD, a biostatistician and professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Bausell also served as research director for the University of Maryland's alternative medicine center but has left that post for reasons that had nothing to do with his research findings, he said.
www.ama-assn.org

Genes Explain Race Disparity in Response to a Heart Drug
The Virginian-Pilot - May 4

Many black patients seem to do just as well if they take a mainstay of therapy, a class of drugs called beta blockers, as if they do not. It is almost as if they were immune to the drugs. Now researchers at Washington University and the University of Maryland have discovered why: these non-responsive patients have a slightly altered version of a gene that muscles use to control responses to nerve signals. This is the first time anyone has found such a gene effect, said Stephen Liggett, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine and one of the first authors of the study. ýConceptually, this is quite a surprise,ý he said.
epilot2.hamptonroads.com

Laughter Really Can Be Good Medicine
Shreveport Times (La.) - May 5

Michael Miller, MD, theorizes endorphins released during laughter may "cross-talk" with the chemicals involved with vascular health, resulting in heart-healthy benefits. Given studies that have shown stress can take a toll on our cardiovascular health, it makes sense that laughter might improve it, says Miller, associate professor at the School of Medicine. "Wouldn't it be nice if we could say, 'When you wake up in the morning, spend a few minutes not only doing pushups but laughing to release those endorphins'?" Miller said.
www.shreveporttimes.com

No Whiter Shade of Pale
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 5

For years, Americans have been taught that as summer approaches, they should reach for sunscreen to protect themselves from a scorching burnýand the skin cancer it might trigger. But new research shows that by covering up, they may be sacrificing important vitamin D, which is made by the skin when it's exposed to sunlight. So, ahead of the beach season, we sought some guidance about the "sunshine vitamin" from Elizabeth Streeten, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and nutrition at the School of Medicine. ýMy opinion is that everyone, children and adults alike, needs to take a vitamin D supplement above the latitude of Atlanta, Ga., during the months of September through April. There is not enough vitamin D in foods to fulfill our requirements except for the most enthusiastic milk drinkers.ý
www.baltimoresun.com

Nurse Staffing Levels Linked to Workplace Injuries
NurseZone.com - May 5

Recent research has linked nurse staffing levels to patient safety, but a new study shows that nurse-to-patient ratios also significantly affect the safety of workers. The study, authored by Alison Trinkoff, ScD, MPH, BSN, RN, a professor in the School of Nursingýs Work and Health Research Center, concluded that there was a direct relationship between low staffing levels and high rates of worker injury in the nursing home environment. "The kinds of injuries suffered by nurses and other workers in nursing homes are not distinct from those that could occur in a direct care situation in a hospital," she explained. ýMusculoskeletal injuries occur anywhere there is lifting and moving of patients.ý
www.nursezone.com

Oldest University of Md. Doctor Turning 105
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 5:30 p.m. - May 2

This is the 133rd Alumni Reunion Weekend at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Richard Sher reports that among those attending Friday's luncheon is Dr. Paul Schenker, the oldest living graduate. Schenker turns 105 on June 10. Schenker was a general surgeon who graduated from the Schoolýs Class of 1926. He retired in 1989. What's changed over the years? Schenker says, "Most doctors don't care as well as they used to."
wjz.com

Remedy Our Shortage of Nurses
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 5

A report released in March on "The Future of the Nursing Work Force in the United States" says the shortage of registered nurses could reach 500,000 by 2025. An older report by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration projects a shortage of more than 1 million registered nurses by 2020, including 5,600 in the District of Columbia, 18,200 in Maryland, and 26,300 in Virginia. In February, Gov. Martin O'Malley announced the allocation of $3.4 million to the School of Nursing to address the shortage through enhanced and expanded space, faculty and staff recruitment, and tuition for additional students.
www.baltimoresun.com

Schaefer's Milestone Highlights Common Dilemma
The Washington Post - May 4

It was a highly public version of a drama that has touched many families. Former Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer, 86, famously stubborn and growing increasingly frail, refused to move out of his Pasadena townhouse. "We call these ethical dilemmas," said Kelley Macmillan, PhD, MSW, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work, who has studied aging for more than 20 years. Sometimes the decision is made in a collaborative way, and at other times the choice to move is delegated, by necessity or default, to another person
www.washingtonpost.com

The School House
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 4

Renting an off-campus condo or apartment may seem like the most valid option when trying to save, but in the right situation, buying a house near campusýeven with the real estate market in a downturnýis a viable alternative to shelling out thousands of dollars over the course of a few years without seeing any return. Sarah Hale, 27, a student at the School of Medicine, began exploring different housing options at the end of her first year. Hale, with the help of her mother, Francie Christopher, was paying $1,000 a month for an apartment in a University-owned building that didn't feel like a place for truly serious students to live and study. "It felt like a college dorm," says Hale, who is studying to be a family practice physician. "We had routine closet inspections and things of that nature. I didn't feel like an adult."
www.baltimoresun.com

'It Is a Moral Imperative'
Washington Post - May 2

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley voiced his support for the expansion of nuclear energy within the state yesterday at the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant, where construction of a new reactor could begin by the end of the year. "The fact that they can call [nuclear energy] clean energy should be prohibited" because the plants generate radioactive waste that lasts thousands of years, said Steven Soifer, PhD, MSW, an associate professor at the School of Social Work and a member of the Chesapeake Safe Energy Coalition.
www.washingtonpost.com

Alan Greenspan, Dented American Idol
Gulf Daily News (Bahrain) - May 1

At the height of Alan Greenspanýs fame, a Washington magazine portrayed him on its cover as a Buddha figure, clad in a purple robe, sitting in the Lotus position before adoring worshippers. ýThe Cult of Greenspan,ý said the headline. A decade later, the U.S. economy is ailing and has begun to infect the rest of the world. In the hunt for a scapegoatýstandard operating procedure in Washingtonýmany fingers point at Greenspan and critics say his 18-year leadership of the U.S. Federal Reserve led to today's troubles in the housing markets. A major milestone on the road to "what is fast becoming the worst financial calamity since the Great Depression," in the words of Morgan Stanley's Stephen Roach, was the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. "I would say there was no one, except the drafters of the bill, who understood what it did," said Michael Greenberger, JD, who served in the Commodity and Futures Trading Commission in the late 1990s and is a professor at the School of Law. "And the drafters were Wall Street lawyers, not legislators."
www.gulf-daily-news.com

Pharaoh Explained
The (Baltimore) Sun - May 2 (Plus 81 other references)

Yale medical school dermatology professor Irwin Braverman will address a University of Maryland medical school conference today on the genetic disorders that might have determined Akhaenaten's strange appearance. The conference, open to the public, is designed to spark interest in pathology and encourage doctors to enhance their powers of observation when they diagnose disorders, according to Philip Mackowiak, MD, the School of Medicine professor who organizes the conference. "I firmly believe it makes one a better physician," said Mackowiak, who has written a book about the disorders that may have killed a variety of historical figures. Barry Daly, MD, a professor of diagnostic radiology at the medical school, will speak tomorrow about CT scans conducted on a mummy brought to the University of Maryland Medical Center from the Walters Art Museum on March 18.
www.baltimoresun.com

Wellmobile Program Comes to the City of Seat Pleasant
WTTG-TV Ch 5 10 p.m. - May 1
MyFoxDC.com - May 1

The Governorýs Wellmobile Program, operated by the School of Nursing, has opened its newest location in the City of Seat Pleasant in Prince Georges County. The program is directed by Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, and uses family nurse practitioners to provide primary health care services for underserved and uninsured residents throughout Maryland. Last year, the program saw more than 7,000 patients and saved the state over $2.7 million in averted emergency room fees.
media.umaryland.edu:8080
www.myfoxdc.com

When Challah Becomes the Bread of Affliction
Jewish Journal (Los Angeles) - May 2

Rabbi Marvin Hier hasn't eaten challah, let alone matzah, in several years. But this bread-free existence isn't part of some Passover-inspired, Atkins-style diet. The founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center was diagnosed with celiac disease (CD) more than four years ago. The disease was thought to be rare, but it is now believed that 1 percent of the populationýroughly 3 million people in the United Statesýhave the condition, according to the Center for Celiac Research at the School of Medicine. CD is especially common among Jews, along with Italians, Irish, British, Scandinavians, Spaniards, and Palestinians.
jewishjournal.com

A Leader in Nursing Education, Margaret Gould Tyson Dies
The (Baltimore) Sun - April 30

Margaret Gould Tyson, 87, former vice president and dean of the School of Nursing at the State University of New York, Binghamton and a national leader in nursing education, died in her sleep Friday at the Fairhaven retirement community in Sykesville. A direct descendant of John Beale Davidge, founder of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1807, Tyson was born in Baltimore. Last year, she endowed the Margaret G. Tyson Dean's Fund for Excellence Award at the University of Maryland School of Nursing in support of professional development. "Dr. Tyson understood that learning is a dynamic process that does not end when one enters a career," said Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, dean of the School. "But she translated this understanding into action by using her generosity to motivate staff to explore continued learning opportunities," Allan added.
www.baltimoresun.com

Alan Greenspan,,Dented American Idol
Reuters - April 30

At the height of Alan Greenspan's fame, a Washington magazine portrayed him on its cover as a Buddha figure, clad in a purple robe, sitting in the Lotus position before adoring worshippers. "The Cult of Greenspan," said the headline. A decade later, the U.S. economy is ailing and has begun to infect the rest of the world. In the hunt for a scapegoatýstandard operating procedure in Washingtonýmany fingers point at Greenspan and critics say his 18-year leadership of the U.S. Federal Reserve led to today's troubles in the housing markets. A major milestone on the road to "what is fast becoming the worst financial calamity since the Great Depression," in the words of Morgan Stanley's Stephen Roach, was the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000. "I would say there was no one, except the drafters of the bill, who understood what it did," said Michael Greenberger, JD, who served in the Commodity and Futures Trading Commission in the late 1990s and is a professor at the School of Law. "And the drafters were Wall Street lawyers, not legislators."
www.reuters.com

Bypass Surgery Made Healthier, More Economical by Da Vinci Robot
ComputerWorld.com - April 30
United Press International - April 30
ScienceCenter.com - April 30
<i>Techgadget.com - April 29
ZDNet.com - April 29

Researchers have noted that bypass surgery done by the da Vinci Robot is more beneficial to oneýs health than a traditional surgery is. It has been observed that patients whose surgeries have been done by the robot recuperate faster with very few chances of post-operative complications. ýThese findings are significant because payers are considering linking reimbursement for coronary artery bypass surgery to patient outcomes,ý says Stephen Bartlett, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine and chief of surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.computerworld.com
www.upi.com

Cell Phone-Based Diabetes Management on Trial
Wirelesshealthcare.com - May 1

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and WellDoc Communications, a technology-based health care company focused on improving diabetes management, are sponsoring a 12-month randomized clinical trial with 260 patients with Type 2 diabetes. The trial, which uses WellDoc's Web- and cell phone-based diabetes management platform, focuses on helping CareFirst members manage the full spectrum of their disease, including blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle, self-management, and other critical components required to optimize their diabetes management. The study is being conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine under the direction of Charlene Quinn, PhD, RN, an assistant professor of epidemiology and preventive medicine
www.wirelesshealthcare.co.uk

Decision to Lower Key Overnight Rate
BBC Radio Live 5 - April 30

Michael Greenberger, JD, former director of the Division of Trading and Markets at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and a professor at the School of Law, was interviewed about the decision by the Federal Open Market Committee, the policy-making body of the U.S. Federal Reserve, to lower its key overnight rate on loans between banks by 0.25 of a percentage point to 2.00 percent. Most lending institutions use the overnight rate, known as the federal funds rate, as a benchmark for what they charge consumers for everything from credit cards to home loans.
www.bbc.co.uk

Quirk of Spring Weather Has Trees and Grass Pollinating At The Same Time
The (Baltimore) Sun - April 30

Pollen-induced allergy and asthma symptoms are suspected of triggering a rash of complaints by schoolchildren across Baltimore County, school officials said. Allergy sufferers, meanwhile, are descending on their doctors. The absence of classroom air conditioning may have contributed to the students' distress at Parkville Middle School. "Air conditioning ... filters out 90 percent of the pollen," said Mary Beth Bollinger, DO, associate professor and interim chief of pediatric pulmonology and allergy at the School of Medicine. Opening windows on a warm day like Friday would have admitted plenty of accumulated pollen.
www.baltimoresun.com