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In the News
June 2005
June 30 update.
A Look at the Life of a Pioneer in the Field of Physical Therapy
The Baltimore Sun - June 26
Florence Peterson Kendall revolutionized the study of physical therapy through her work, writings, and teaching. She was a longtime professor at the School of Medicine. In 2000, the Kendall Collection, a collection of her writings and films about the history of physical therapy in Maryland, was dedicated in the University's Health and Human Services Library. "This is a profession for caring, conscientious, and sincere people," said Kendall.
www.baltimoresun.com
Press Splits on How to Protect Confidential Sources
Christian Science Monitor - June 30
When the U.S. Supreme Court didn't stop a federal prosecutor's bid to jail two reporters who refused to testify about confidential sources this week, many free-press advocates were horrified. "Once you start defining [who is a reporter], it does raise problems," says Abraham Dash, JD, a professor at the School of Law. "You've got to make exceptions when (the law) will not apply."
search.csmonitor.com
Researchers Link Nursing Levels to Staffing Levels
Medical News Today - June 29
Washington State Nursing Association News - June 29
Nursingassistants.net - June 30, 2005
Medilexion.com - June 29
A study conducted by School of Nursing research professor Alison Trinkoff, ScD, RN, FAAN, examining injury and staffing data for three U.S. states, including Maryland, found that the injury rate among nurses and nurses aides is directly correlated to staffing.
www.medicalnewstoday.com
UMB Researcher Wins Prize for Anti-Estrogen Drug
The Washington Post - June 30
Angela Brodie, PhD, a professor of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics at the School of Medicine and a researcher at the University of Maryland's Greenebaum Cancer Center, was awarded the Charles F. Kettering Prize for the most outstanding recent contribution to the diagnosis or treatment of cancer. The drug that Brodie pioneered inhibits an enzyme known as aromatase, which has been shown to shrink tumors and significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence. "It's wonderful. And yes, it's exciting, too," said Brodie.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 29 update.
Cancer Center Opening
WJZ-TV Ch.l 13 - June 28
Baltimore Business Journal - June 28
A state-of-the-art outpatient cancer center opens Wednesday at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. The $14 million, 25,000-square-foot center offers patients a central location to receive a full range of treatment, including follow-up care.
wjz.com
baltimore.bizjournals.com
Developing a New Test for Mad Cow Disease
WJZ-TV - Ch 13 - June 28
Niel Constantine, PhD, a professor in the department of pathology at the School of Medicine, has developed a new test to detect mad cow disease using the blood of living animals. Constantine hopes the new test will allow sick animals to be detected before they become part of the food chain.
Freedom of the Press
WUSA- TV Ch. 9 - June 29
The Supreme Court refused this week to hear an appeal from two journalists who have been ordered by lower courts to reveal confidential information from their sources. Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law, says by not taking the case, the Court is saying that when reporters are dealing with possible criminal violations they have to testify and reveal that information.
Researchers Revive Dogs
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - June 29
Using a cold saline solution to keep their bodies in suspended animation and stave off brain damage, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Safar Center for Resuscitation Research were able to bring dogs back to life three hours after their death, one hour longer than in previous experiments. "When you think in terms of huge advances in the care of the badly injured person, this has the potential to be, if not the greatest advance, one of the greatest advances of all time," said Thomas Scalea, MD, physician-in-chief of Shock Trauma Center and professor at the School of Medicine.
pittsburghlive.com
Woman Weaned off Heart Pump
Newsday.com - June 29
A 45-year-old woman awaiting a heart transplant was successfully weaned off an artificial heart pump at Yale-New Haven Hospital, after the device helped her ailing heart grow stronger. Mandeep Mehra, MD, a professor and chief of cardiology at the School of Medicine, who was not involved in the surgery, said he expects such pumps will increasingly be used to help patients recover from heart attacks and other problems.
www.newsday.com
June 28 update.
Alison Davitt Has Been Appointed Director of Development for Special Gifts at UMB
Greater Baltimore Committee Newsletter - June 28
Alison Davitt, newly appointed director of development for special gifts, is featured in the newsletter.
www.gbc.org
Researchers Develop a Test for Mad Cow Disease
Baltimore Business Journal - June 27
University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have designed a test to detect abnormal proteins that cause Mad Cow Disease, a fatal neurological illness in animals. In humans, the disease is called Creutzfeld-Jacob. School of Medicine pathology professor and Director of Clinical Immunology Neil Constantine, PhD, said the test is more sensitive than previous methods.
baltimore.bizjournals.com
U.S. Supreme Court decisions on the Ten Commandments could affect Frederick County Park
The Washington Times - June 28
Attorneys in Maryland are evaluating two U.S. Supreme Court decisions about the Ten Commandments to determine how they will affect a recent decision by a federal judge to allow a privately owned religious marker in a Frederick County park. Robert Percival, JD, a constitutional law professor at the School of Law, said the key factor in deciding if a religious symbol is allowed on public property is whether the city intended to promote religion.
washingtontimes.com
June 27 update.
Developer Has Plans for Building Near UMB BioPark
Baltimore Business Journal - June 24
A Baltimore developer has purchased three properties across the street from the UMB BioPark and is talking to UMB officials about incorporating his properties into the BioPark. Jim Hughes, vice president for research and development at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, notes that the first BioPark building is almost fully leased.
www.bizjournals.com
Getting Women to Go on a Workout Path
Baltimore Sun - June 24
Pamela Peeke, MD, an assistant clinical professor at the School of Medicine, has written a new book, Body for LIFE for Women, which includes a 12-week plan for "physical and mental transformation." Peeke favors a mind-body approach to fitness that emphasizes a woman's hormonal and physiological differences.
www.baltimoresun.com
Nurses Forge Unique Career Paths Outside Hospitals
Annapolis Capital - June 27
Only a slight majority of Maryland's 76,000 nurses work in hospitals, the traditional setting for a nursing career. Others work in doctors' offices, clinics, surgery centers and even schools. At the School of Nursing, the nursing informatics program trains nurses to design and implement health care software, said Keith Plowden, PhD, an assistant dean. There's even a program for nurses interested in the health effects of environmental problems.
www.hometownannapolis.com
Social Network's Healing Power Is Borne Out in Poorer Nations
Washington Post - June 27
Studies have consistently shown that people with schizophrenia, a deadly illness characterized by hallucinations, disorganized thinking and social withdrawal, typically do far better in poorer nations such as India, Nigeria, and Colombia than in Denmark, England, and the United States. "A culture like ours is oriented around individual autonomy and accomplishment," said William Carpenter, MD, a psychiatrist at the School of Medicine and director of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center (MPRC) who helped run a wing of the World Health Organization study in the Washington area.
www.washingtonpost.com
June 23 update.
Celiac Cyclist Completes Cross-Country Mission
Portland Press Herald - June 22
A Portland, Maine woman who suffers from celiac disease has completed a cross-country bike ride to raise funds for the Center for Celiac Research at the School of Medicine. Regina Erskine suffered a temporary setback when she was struck by a pick-up truck during the ride and fractured a vertebra.
pressherald.mainetoday.com
Research Shows That Laughter Benefits Heart
WCCO.com, Channel 4 - June 22
Throughout the years, scientists have gathered research to prove the saying, ýLaughter is the best medicine.ý Now, researchers believe that a good laugh is not only especially important, but can be as beneficial to the heart as exercising. University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers have found that the lining of blood vessels and arteries expand when people laugh. That expansion increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
wcco.com
June 22 update.
Bridges to the Past
Baltimore Sun - June 22
An overview of the stories behind the items on display at the new Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture features a story about School of Nursing alumna Esther McCready, DIN '53, who "fought for the right to be trained as a nurse." The front page story in the ýTodayý section features a large color photo of McCready standing by the display that features her in the new museum. "I thought it was a shame that because of my race, there was only one school in Baltimore that I could not attend," said McCready.
www.baltimoresun.com
Ehrlich Cuts Health Care for Children of Immigrants
Baltimore Sun - June 22
The Ehrlich administration has begun sending letters to thousands of low-income legal immigrants informing them that their children will lose health care benefits next month, and officials are deciding whether to restore funding to help pregnant women, as demanded by the legislature. Olivia Carter Pokras, PhD, an associate professor in the epidemiology and preventive medicine department at the School of Medicine, said Latino women would be hit hardest by the cut because they have the lowest rates of insurance coverage in the state.
www.baltimoresun.com
Political Pundits in Terri Schiavo Case Chastised
Baltimore Sun - June 21
On the Sunday editorial page, commentator Clarence Page casts a critical eye on media and political pundits who "intruded into a family dispute" involving the family of Terri Schaivo. He points to the medical examiner's report that her brain damage was "irreversible," and quotes Howard Eisenberg, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, who said, "She didn't exist as Terri Schaivo anymore."
www.chicagotribune.com
The Prescription for Pharmacists: 6-Figure Salaries
Associated Press - June 19
Chicago Daily Herald ý June 22
Houston Chronicle ý June 22
Applications to pharmacy schools across the nation have soared as word has spread that graduates are virtually guaranteed lucrative jobs. Pharmacy openings are multiplying as the aging population increasingly needs professionals to dispense, manage, and research a growing list of prescription medications, yet a shortfall of as many as 157,000 pharmacists is predicted by 2020. The statistics are listed in findings of a 2001 conference of pharmacy experts sponsored by the Pharmacy Manpower Project and headed by David Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy.
www.dailyherald.com
www.chron.com
www.chron.com
U.S. Borders Still Vulnerable to Attacks
WUSA TV - June 22
Congressional lawmakers are asking questions about the vulnerability of U.S. borders to terrorists, especially after the government has spent $800 million on border security. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the School's Center for Health and Homeland Security, says the concern is justified and that the southwestern border between the U.S. and Mexico is especially vulnerable. "It's as though we've locked all the doors except the back door. Protecting our southwest border should be one of our highest priorities."
Zambian Leader Tours Md. Viral Disease Center
Baltimore Sun ý June 22
WBAL Channel 11- June 22
Zambia's president toured a laboratory at the Institute for Human Virologyýa front today in the battle against the AIDS virus that is ravaging his African country. The institute researches viruses that cause AIDS and other diseases and is a partner in President George W. Bush's emergency plan for AIDS relief in Africa. Robert Gallo, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine, the director of the IHV, and co-discoverer of the virus that causes AIDS, gave the Zambian president a personal tour of the Maryland facility.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.thewbalchannel.com
June 21 update.
Heroin Moves In
Attleboro Sun Chronicle - Jun 19
A 2004 study by the Center for Substance Abuse Research at the School of Pharmacy found that alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana are the leading drugs of choice. The facts are cited in a story about the increasing availability of heroin.
www.thesunchronicle.com
On the Vitamin D Front, Another Ray of Hope
Baltimore Sun - June 19
The latest in a series of studies revealing unexpected benefits from vitamin D has shown that a calcium and vitamin D-rich diet may reduce the risk of premenstrual syndrome. Chandra Graham, MD, an assistant professor of obstetrics at the School of Medicine, said 40 to 50 percent of women experience symptoms, but only 10 to 15 percent have severe PMS.
www.baltimoresun.com
The Prescription for Pharmacists: 6-Figure Salaries
Houston Chronicle - June 19
Applications to pharmacy schools across the nation have soared as word has spread that graduates are virtually guaranteed lucrative jobs. Pharmacy openings are multiplying as the aging population increasingly needs professionals to dispense, manage, and research a growing list of prescription medications, yet a shortfall of as many as 157,000 pharmacists is predicted by 2020. The statistics are listed in findings of a 2001 conference of pharmacy experts sponsored by the Pharmacy Manpower Project and headed by David Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy.
www.chron.com
June 20 update.
Drug Recall Spurs Questions
USA Today - June 19
A small New Jersey company is at the center of one of the biggest drug recalls ever, and a month after it began, little is clear about why millions of doses were suddenly pulled off the market. "The drugs might be fine, but you just don't know," says Sheila Weiss Smith, PhD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine. "This is how we make sure that the drugs are safe, that they're not contaminated."
www.usatoday.com
Gluten-free Travel
Orlando Sentinel - June 19
Four years ago, Bob and Ruth Levy formed the Baltimore-based Gluten-free Dining and Travel Club. They've organized a 10-day cruise to Italy and Greece this fall. The expert lecturer on the cruise is Alessio Fasano, MD, director of the Center for Celiac Research at the School of Medicine.
www.orlandosentinel.com
Political Pundits in Terri Schiavo Case Chastised
Chicago Tribune - June 19
On the Sunday editorial page, commentator Clarence Page casts a critical eye on media and political pundits who "intruded into a family dispute" involving the family of Terri Schaivo. He points to the medical examiner's report that her brain damage was "irreversible," and quotes Howard Eisenberg, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, who said, "She didn't exist as Terri Schaivo anymore."
www.chicagotribune.com
Push to Monitor Contaminants in Bodies
San Mateo County Times - June 20
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found plentiful evidence of household chemicals, such as plastic additives called phthalates, getting into the body. Experts are concerned whether common chemicals pose more of a threat in one population than another. "We don't know," said Judy LaKind, MD, adjunct associate professor at the School of Medicine. "Frankly, we do a pretty lousy job when we have chemicals that interact in non-simplistic ways."
www.insidebayarea.com
June 17 update.
Acupuncture Helps Victims of Dry Mouth
United Press International ý June 16
Medical News Today ý June 16
Webindia123 ý June 17
People who suffer from dry mouth ý a chronic condition caused by malfunctioning salivary glands ý get long-term relief from acupuncture. Researchers, led by Warren Morganstein DDS, professor at the School of Dentistry, reported their findings in the journal General Dentistry.
www.medicalnewstoday.com
news.webindia123.com
Award Presented to Organization Led by Law School Professor
Daily Record - June 17
The late Denis Murphy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, is the focus of an article on the organization Civil Justice. Murphy was executive director of the program, which encourages law school graduates to help low-income people with legal issues. At the Maryland State Bar Association annual meeting in Ocean City, Murphy's legacy and Civil Justice will be recognized with a service award. Murphy died suddenly of a heart attack in May. He was 66.
Minorities in the Legal Profession
Daily Record - June 16
A committee of the Maryland State Bar association has revisited a report done 18 years ago on the status of minorities in the legal profession. The result is the "2005 Minority Report," being presented at the MSBA annual meeting in Ocean City. Karen Rothenberg, JD, MPA, dean of the School of Law, is a panel member.
June 16 update.
Distraction Toys Help Children Cope With Cancer Treatment
Fox 45 - June 9
A story about the use of distraction toys as a way to help children cope better with treatment for cancer and blood disorders featured Neil Grossman, MD, a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and head of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at the School of Medicine.
Governor Ignores the Assembly, Shuts Offices
Baltimore Sun - June 16
The Ehrlich administration is shutting down the offices that enforce minimum wage and prevailing wage laws, ignoring legislation passed by the General Assembly this year directing the governor to keep them open. Dan Friedman, JD, a Baltimore attorney who has taught state constitutional law at the School of Law and is writing a book about Maryland's Constitution, said such disputes have been common over the years.
www.baltimoresun.com
No Easy Answers in Mutual Fund Case
Baltimore Sun - June 16
Lawyers began arguments today in a complex civil lawsuit brought against the mutual fund industry by average investors, who allege the companies knowingly cheated them. Richard Booth, JD, a professor at the School of Law, comments on the meager amounts most investors will receive if they win the case.
www.baltimoresun.com
One-Stop Shopping-and Some Help For Strep Throat
The American Nurse - May/June 2005
There is an emerging trend that offers nurse practitioner-staffed clinics in superstores to provide primary care in approximately 15 minutes. Minute-Clinic is one of the companies leading the charge for these walk-in clinics located in stores such as Target. "They use our state-of-the-art computer facilities to do staff training, and they recruited two of our NP faculty," said School of Nursing Dean Janet Allan, PhD, RN, CN, FAAN, referring to a Baltimore area Minute-Clinic.
Terri Schiavo's Autopsy Released
Baltimore Sun - June 16
A county medical examiner in Florida released the autopsy results on Terri Schiavo yesterday, calling her brain damage "irreversible." Howard Eisenberg, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine, said "the autopsy certainly supports the contention that she had no awareness of self. She didn't exist as Terri Schiavo anymore."
www.baltimoresun.com
June 15 update.
Patients Persevere Against Daily Headaches
The Chicago Tribune - June 15
Chronic daily headache is a condition affecting 4 percent of the population. It occurs twice as often in women as in men. According to research by Diane Hoffmann, JD, associate dean at the School of Law, and Anita Tarzian, PhD, RN, research associate in the Law and Health Care Program at the School, women's complaints aren't taken as seriously as men's, and the treatment given to women tends to be less aggressive than with male patients.
www.chicagotribune.com
Security of U.S. Chemical Plants at Risk
WUSA TV - June 15
Chemical plants are an extremely vulnerable target for terrorists, second only to nuclear plants, according to government sources. The Bush administration's policy has been to allow chemical plants to develop their own protection plans. This week, that policy changed and the Bush administration is now backing mandatory regulations. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law, comments on the shift in policy, as well as problems discovered with the government's master list of suspected terrorists compiled after 9/11.
June 14 update.
Michael Jackson Found Not Guilty
WBAL TV - June 13
After a four-month trial, singer Michael Jackson was found not guilty of charges that he supplied alcohol to a 13-year-old cancer patient, molested him, then conspired to imprison the boy and his family. Andrew Levy, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, provided analysis on the verdict in a live interview, calling it a "clean sweep" for the defense, and saying that Jackson's "weirdness may have worked in his favor."
June 13 update.
Can Pharmacists Be Forced to Fill Prescriptions They Believe Are Morally Wrong?
The Daily Record - June 10
Retired judge John Fader II, senior fellow at the School of Law, discusses the so-called "conscience clause" in Maryland. Fader, a licensed pharmacist, was asked by pharmacy students if, under Maryland law, they could be forced to fill prescriptions they feel are morally objectionable. Fader says "conscience clause" is an issue of great concern throughout the country, and it's only a matter of time before it erupts in Maryland.
www.mddailyrecord.com
Drink Tea for Good Health
About Diabetes - June 13
According to researchers at the School of Medicine, archeological evidence suggests that Camellia sinensis, or tea, was being consumed as many as 500,000 years ago and can be used today for health-related purposes.
lungdiseases.about.com
Fears of Flu Pandemic Spurring Preparations
Baltimore Sun - June 12
To safeguard Americans against a pandemic that scientists generally agree is inevitable, federal, state, and local officials are developing extensive plans encompassing needs such as hospital and mortuary capacity and production of antiviral medication and vaccines. An avian flu vaccine is being tested at the School of Medicine and two other sites.
www.baltimoresun.com
First Woman Scientist Receives Kettering Award
WYPR Radio - June 13
Angela Brodie, PhD, a professor at the School of Medicine, is the first woman scientist to receive the prestigious Charles F. Kettering prize from the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation. She discussed the research currently underway at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center on this morning's show.
Maryland Strategy for Cleaning the Air
Washington Post - June 12
In an editorial, Democratic State Sen. Brian Frosh argues that the environmental policy of Gov. Robert Erhlich has contributed to worsening air quality. The Environmental Law Clinic at the School of Law is mentioned.
www.washingtonpost.com
Teen Paralyzed by Bullet Graduates
The Boston Globe - June 13
A Boston high school basketball star, paralyzed by a stray bullet, is profiled as he graduates from high school. Ligia Peralta, MD, keynote speaker and professor at the School of Medicine, called the student an example of "conquering what you fear."
www.boston.com
June 10 update.
Area Tea Drinkers: Unite!
Tahlequah Daily Press - June 10
June is National Tea Month. According to researchers at the School of Medicine, archeological evidence suggests that Camellia sinensis, or tea, was being consumed as many as 500,000 years ago and can be used today for health-related purposes.
www.tahlequahdailypress.com
Debate Continues Over USA Patriot Act
The Baltimore Sun - June 10
President Bush is pressing Congress to renew key provisions of the USA Patriot Act that have alarmed civil libertarians. The legislation would give the FBI unprecedented access to personal records without first getting a warrant. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law, calls this "worrisome." "Basically, if you have a valid reason for doing a search, judges are going to grant you a warrant," says Greenberger.
www.baltimoresun.com
Homeland Security Department Lacks Computer Backups
WTOP Radio - 4:50 p.m. June 9
In a nationwide advertising blitz, the Homeland Security Department has urged businesses and families to "Get Ready Now" for potential terror attacks or other disasters. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, and a professor at the Law School, was interviewed about problem.
www.nytimes.com
Kidney Transplants for Persons with Heart Problems
WSOCtv.com - June 9
Traditionally, doctors have been reluctant to perform a kidney transplant in patients with heart problems because of a supposed increased risk of death or complications from the weakened heart. However, recent research from the University of Maryland Medical Center may change that. Not only were the transplants performed safely, the investigators found more than 86 percent of the patients experienced an improvement in heart function. Ravinder K. Wali, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, was the lead author of the study.
www.wsoctv.com
New Device Helps Control Radiation Therapy
Forbes - June 10
Researchers at the School of Medicine reported that a special device can control the "scatter" of the electron beam used in radiation therapy. This effectively lowers the amount of radiation to less than 25 percent of the current dose.
www.forbes.com
New Report Details FBI, CIA Errors in 9/11
WTOP Radio - 9:30 a.m. June 10
A new report by the Justice Department casts a critical eye on the FBI and CIA for missed opportunities in tracking down two of the 9/11 hijackers. Michael Greenberger, JD, and professor at the School of Law, comments on says that although there are not a lot of new facts, it does offer more detail than before. Greenberger stressed that the president and attorney general should complete a fundamental analysis of the FBI and make the appropriate changes complete.
Reactive Blood Pressure Linked to Impaired Thinking
Reuters - June 9
Middle-age and older people who have a greater blood pressure reaction in response to stress score lower on a number of mental performance tests, independent of their resting blood pressure, a new report shows. High blood pressure is associated with worse mental performance, even among patients who have not suffered a stroke and have no signs of dementia, Shari R. Waldstein, PhD, associate professor of behavioral medicine, and Leslie I. Katzel, MD, PhD, associate professor of gerontology at the School of Medicine, note in the journal Neurology.
www.reuters.com
Students 'Opt-out' of Recruitment
People's Weekly World - June 10
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the Albuquerque School District for failing to notify parents that they could refuse to allow schools to send their children's contact information to military recruiters. Robert V. Percival, JD, a constitutional law professor at the School of Law, cites rulings that make the access of student information by the military illegal, including the Buckley Amendment passed in 1974.
www.pww.org
Study: Certain Drinks Can Permanently Damage Teeth
CBS2 (Chicago) - June 9
Researchers at the Dental School say the risk of summer sports drinks is real. They soaked human teeth in a variety of popular beverages for 14 hours ý a period equivalent to about 13 years worth of normal beverage consumption. J. Anthony von Fraunhofer, PhD, DDS, a researcher and a professor at the Dental School, says, "This frankly astonished us. It was way, way worse than we ever could have predicted."
cbs2chicago.com
Waynesboro Woman a Pioneer in Newest Surgical Procedure
Waynesboro Record Herald - June 9
Pearl Walker spent 12 years with a blockage in her chest until a Maryland surgeon got ahold of her heart. She was one of the first people to have the minimally invasive coronary artery bypass with stented angioplasty at the University of Maryland Medical Center's Heart Center. "They recover a lot quicker," says Robert Poston, MD, an assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine and her cardiac surgeon, who attributes the smoother recovery to a smaller incision and smaller piece of bone removed.
www.therecordherald.com
June 9 update.
Annual Conference Addresses Latest in Vaccine Research
Biotech Week ý June 8
Vaccine Weekly - June 8
Genetics & Environmental Health Week - June 8
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases held its annual conference on vaccine research in Baltimore. The meeting is devoted not only to vaccine research, but also to the technologies for disease prevention and treatment through immunization. The Center for Vaccine Development at the School of Medicine is a participant in the conference.
Cross-Country Cyclist Hit by Truck
The Portland Press Herald - June 8
Regina Erskine, who suffers from celiac disease, was cycling across the country to raise awareness about the disease. She had already biked 1,500 miles, accepting donations for the Center for Celiac Research at the School of Medicine, when she was struck by a pickup truck in Arkansas last week. She suffered a serious back injury, but says she hopes to complete the trip "in some fashion."
pressherald.mainetoday.com
c2c4celiac.info
Effort Grows To Teach Risks, Benefits of Clinical Trails
The Baltimore Sun - June 9
"Anybody who's in the field understands ... that there has been some erosion of public trust as a result of some of the problems," says Susan Buskirk, executive director of the School of Medicine's human research protections program, in a story about the risks and benefits of turning to clinical trials as treatment possibilities.
www.baltimoresun.com
Many Scientists Confess To Sin of Misconduct
The Baltimore Sun - June 9
Adil Shamoo, MD, PhD, a professor at the School of Medicine, a bioethicist, and editor of the journal Accountability in Research, said some scientists are in denial, believing all scientific flaws eventually get corrected.
www.baltimoresun.com
June 8 update.
At the SEC: Backlash Without the Lash
Forbes - June 3
Many see the resignation of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman William Donaldson as a serious loss. Michael Greenberger, JD, a former regulator at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and a professor at the School of Law, notes that the scant regulations of hedge funds, affected in the wake of the long-term capital management crisis, have largely been repealed.
First Woman Scientist Receives Kettering Award
The Daily Record - June 7
Angela Brodie, PhD, a professor at the School of Medicine, is the first woman scientist to receive the prestigious Charles F. Kettering prize from the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation. She was recognized with a gift of $250,000 for her pioneering research in developing a new class of drugs to treat breast cancer.
www.mddailyrecord.com
Guantanamo Bay and Terrorism Arrests
WUSA-TV Ch 9 - 9 a.m. June 8
In his weekly appearance on this Washington news broadcast, Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the Law School, was interviewed about calls to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and about the arrest of a father and son in an alleged al-Qaida cell in California.
Is EPA Data Reliable?
The Washington Post - June 7
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is challenging data supplied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The chamber argues that "erroneous" data on how various chemicals affect the environment can have "huge financial implications" on businesses. Environmental expert Rena Steinzor, JD, a professor at the School of Law, comments on the chamber's position.
www.washingtonpost.com
Mind and Body Connection
The Washington Times - June 7
The idea that the body is closely entwined with the mind is not new. What's new is the theory to explain it. Sharon Montes, MD, a professor at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the School of Medicine, comments on the subject of psychoneuroimmunology, the process by which the body and mind communicate.
www.washingtontimes.com
Transplants Bring Double Dose of Hope
WBAL-TV Ch 11- morning news ý June 4
Baltimore surgeons performed a double liver transplant last month. "The domino procedure enables us to help two very sick patients and make efficient use of the limited number of donor organs," says Benjanmin Philosophe, MD, PhD, a professor at the School of Medicine and head of the University of Maryland Medical Center's Division of Transplantation. Philosophe led the team, which included surgeons Luis Campos, MD, and Eugene J. Schweitzer, MD, and anesthesiologists Obi R. Udekwu, MD and Vadivelu Sivaraman, MD, MBBS.
Trial in Child Killings of Begins Today
The Baltimore Sun - June 8
Two 9-year-old siblings and their 10-year-old cousin were killed last year in their northwest Baltimore apartment. The trial of the children's uncle and cousin, both charged with first-degree murder, starts today. Douglas Colbert, JD, a professor at the School of Law, comments on the importance of establishing a motive for the crime in the eyes of jurors.
www.baltimoresun.com
UM Law Clinic Wins New Term for 1971 Murder Convict
The Daily Record - June 7
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals held that a 1972 murder sentence was illegal since the judge at the time did not realize he had the power to suspend all or part of the sentence. The case was brought by the Post-Conviction Clinic at the School of Law.
www.mddailyrecord.com
June 7 update.
Aids Experts Awaken to False Alarm
The Los Angeles Times - June 5
A warning of a virulent new strain in New York didn't pan out, and the messengers feel the heat. Robert Gallo, MD, director at the Institute for Human Virology, is quoted.
www.latimes.com
Diet and Exercise
Mail Tribune - June 7
Dental School alumni John Emmett, DDS, and his wife are featured in a story about nutrition, fitness, and their book titled, Turn Back the Hands of Time.
www.mailtribune.com
Finally, Back to Health
Washington Post - June 7
Steven C. Ludwig, MD, chief of spine surgery and associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the School of Medicine is featured in a story about a woman's bout with a spinal disorder and Ludwig's ability to resolve her pain problems.
Law School Milestone
The Daily Record - June 7
One hundred and thirty four years ago this month, the University of Maryland School of Law graduated its first class of six students.
www.mddailyrecord.com
June 6 update.
Marking the Point
Asbury Park Press - June 5
Acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past two decades and has been found to successfully alleviate chronic pain in many sufferers. "They're able to work or play with their children," says researcher Brian Berman, MD, director of the complementary medicine program at the School of Medicine.
www.app.com
Sink Your Teeth Into Dental Care
New Straits Times, Malaysia - June 5
Prevention is always better than cure where dental health is concernedýan observation made by Louis G DePaola, DDS, professor of diagnostic sciences at the Dental School at a conference in Malaysia where he discussed the emphasis on prevention in the United States.
www.nst.com.my
Transplants Bring Double Dose of Hope
The Baltimore Sun - June 3
WJZ-TV Ch 13 - June 3
WBAL-TV Ch 11- June 3
The Washington Post - June 4
BOC-TV Ch 16 - June 4
Baltimore surgeons performed a double liver transplant last month that doctors have performed only 50 times in history-and it saved two Maryland men. "The domino procedure enables us to help two very sick patients and make efficient use of the limited number of donor organs," says Benjanmin Philosophe, MD, PhD, head of the University of Maryland Medical Center's Division of Transplantation.
www.washingtonpost.com
www.wboc.com
www.baltimoresun.com
www.thewbalchannel.com
wjz.com
June 3 update.
Billick Commencement Remarks Re-Aired
WBAL Radio - 11 p.m. May 31
The entire speech for UMB Commencement by Ravens head coach Brian Billick re-aired at the start of the 11 p.m. hour of "SportsLine With Steve Davis" Orioles post-game show.
Free Cancer Drug Available
The Baltimore Sun - June 3
The Daily Record - June 3
WBAL-TV Ch 11 - June 2
WJZ-TV Ch 13 - June 2
WMAR-TV Ch 2 - June 1
WBFF-TV Ch 45 - June 1
The Maryland Attorney General's Office announced that the state is offering the cancer-fighting drug Taxol free to patients without insurance. The program is the result of a 2003 settlement of an antitrust lawsuit that Maryland, Ohio and Florida brought against the drug's maker, Bristol-Myers Squibb. Among the recipients are 21 Maryland facilities, including the University of Maryland Medical Center. Kevin J. Cullen, MD, director of the Greenebaum Cancer Center and professor in the School of Medicine, participated in the news conference.
www.baltimoresun.com
Industry Reaction to CFTC Nominee is Glowing
Securities Week ý May 31
Industry reaction to the nomination of investment banker Reuben Jeffrey III as chairman of the Commodities Future Trading Commission has been very positive. School of Law professor Michael Greenberger, JD, former director of the CFTC Division of Trading and Markets, says Jeffrey's credentials make him a natural choice to investigate rapidly rising prices for natural gas markets, which concerned the White House and the business community.
June 2 update.
$40 Million Grant Awarded for Bioterrorism Research
ABC News - June 2
Yahoo News
Associated Press
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded $40 million to Colorado State University (CSU) to develop treatments and vaccines for bioterrorism agents and infectious diseases. CSU joins eight other universities, medical schools, and state health departments that have won NIAID grants to establish regional biodefense and infectious disease centers. Included are The Center for Vaccine Development and the School of Medicine.
news.yahoo.com
Kidney-Heart Connection
WIS-TV Columbia, SC - June 1
WOWT, NE News 6, NE
A kidney transplant may improve a weakening heart, according to a new study led by Stephen Gottlieb, MD, professor, School of Medicine. In 70 percent of the kidney transplant patients studied, the heart's pumping ability returned to normal or near normal.
www.wistvcom
www.wowt.com
June 1 update.
Insurance Coverage for Cervical Cancer Testing
The Daily Record - May 31
A new Maryland law requires health insurance companies to cover the cost of a test for the virus considered to be the primary cause of cervical cancer. Because many women were once unaware of the connection between the virus and cervical cancer, the test was often ordered only as a follow-up for women with abnormal pap smears. The test is now covered as part of routine screening. Sandra Brooks, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine, is quoted in the article.
www.mddailyrecord.com
Laughter and Blood Flow are Linked
The Detroit News ý June 1
Emediawire.com ý June 1
Although the exact means by which laughter helps lower future heart risk is not fully understood, one researcher at the University of Maryland's School of Medicine might be on the right track. Michael Miller, MD, has been measuring how laughter influences blood vessels.
www.detnews.com
www.emediawire.com
Risk Factors for Blood Clots Studied
Medicalnewstoday.com - June 1
The prolonged immobility of flight passengers during long air travel increases the risk of developing blood clots, which could prove fatal especially to people whose travel occurs just prior to major surgery, medical researchers report in the current issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Denis Bourke, M.D., a professor in the School of Medicine, co-authored the study.
www.medicalnewstoday.com
Watergate "Deep Throat" and Arthur Anderson Decision
WUSA-TV Ch 9 ý June 1
Former FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt has been identified as the "Deep Throat" in the Watergate investigation. School of Law professor Michael Greenberger, JD, says Felt "was suspected for a long time by many Washington insiders" to be the source for the Washington Post reporters. Regarding the Supreme Court decision overturning the conviction of the Arthur Anderson accounting firm, Greenberger said it is not clear what the long-term implications of this will be.
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