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In the News
August 2005
August 31 update.
Health Hazards of Standing Water, Post Katrina
WBAL-TV, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. - Aug. 29
WBFTV-Fox 45, 7 a.m. - Aug. 31
Post-Katrina coverage has included discussions about the health hazards of current conditions in affected states. Brenda Afzal, RN, MPH, community public health specialist at the School of Nursing's Environmental Health Education Center, outlined the health hazards of standing water.
Scientists Move Closer to Malaria Vaccine
AllHeadlineNews.Com
An international team of scientists has determined the molecular structure of a promising malaria-vaccine component, which could one day prevent the deaths of 2 million people each year. "The high number of deaths from malaria is partly due to the malaria parasite's acquired resistance to traditional treatments," said Adrian Batchelor, PhD, assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy.
www.allheadlinenews.com
UM Institute to Aid China in Its Fight to Halt AIDS
Los Angeles Times - Aug. 29
The University of Maryland Institute for Human Virology (IHV) has signed an agreement with China to assist that country in finding appropriate drug treatments against AIDS and to train Chinese doctors in the care of people with AIDS. China will send researchers to work in the IHV laboratories on West Lombard Street. Robert Gallo, MD, director of the IHV and a professor in the School of Medicine, signed the agreement on behalf of the Institute.
www.latimes.com
August 30 update.
Jury Deliberations Continue in Children's Murder Trial
WBFF-TV Ch 45 - 5:30 p.m. & 10 p.m. Aug. 29
WBAL-TV Ch 11 - 5 p.m. & 6 p.m. Aug. 29
Jurors weighing the fate of two Mexican men accused of murdering three children were shown a new videotape of the scene, 10 days into their deliberations. Andrew Levy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, said although the move is unusual, what matters is that the defendants receive a trial free from prejudice.
Mutual Fund Fallout
Richmond Times-Dispatch - Aug. 30
Investors hoping to recoup their losses from recent mutual fund scandals are turning to civil litigation. The firms argue theyýve already paid settlement money that ends up going to the shareholders. "While this whole thing is being settled, investors are standing in the corner with their pockets inside out," said Richard Booth, JD, professor at the School of Law. "Individual investors didn't lose a lot of money in this thing, but that doesn't make it easier to say, 'I got cheated here, I have nothing to show for it, and now I'm just supposed to move on.'"
www.timesdispatch.com
Scientists Move Closer to Malaria Vaccine
Webindia123.Com
An international team of scientists has determined the molecular structure of a promising malaria-vaccine component, which could one day prevent the deaths of 2 million people each year. "The high number of deaths from malaria is partly due to the malaria parasite's acquired resistance to traditional treatments," said Adrian Batchelor, PhD, assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy.
news.webindia123.com
Suspected Members of MS-13 Gang Are Indicted
The Washington Post - Aug. 26
Nineteen men reportedly belonging to a Latino street gang have been indicted on federal racketeering charges. They were charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, which was enacted by Congress in 1970 to give law enforcement a powerful tool prosecute the Mafia, according to Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law.
www.washingtonpost.com
Transplanting Kidneys Works in High-Risk Patients
News 14 Carolina - 5 p.m. Aug. 30
News 14 Carolina.Com
Doctors at the University of Maryland Medical Center, who studied transplant patients with both kidney and congestive heart failure, found that 86 percent of the patients experienced dramatic improvement in their heartýs pumping action after receiving a new kidney. "What we found in the study was that patients could actually end up with totally normal function of the heart," said Stephen Gottlieb, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
rdu.news14.com
August 29 update.
A Positive Side to Video Games
The Macon Telegraph - Aug. 28
A small number of game makers are developing games designed to spur young players to exercise, focus, monitor their health, and even relax. The story includes a reference to an initiative called Games for Health, which will be held next month at the School of Medicine. The conference will bring together health care professionals and game creators to discuss potential collaborations on games that help children with cancer manage their disease.
www.macon.com
Debate over Judge John Roberts' Views
Orlando Sentinel - Aug. 28
Lawmakers will consider Judge Robertsý reputation as a conservative at next monthýs U.S. Supreme Court nomination hearing. "As politics gets polarized, the Senate gets more active," said Mark Graber, JD, PhD, a professor at the School of Law.
www.orlandosentinel.com
Ehrlich Puts Renewed Focus on Crime Control Office
The Daily Record - Aug. 24
Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr., has empowered his Office of Crime Control and Prevention to oversee statewide public safety measures. Susan Leviton, JD, a professor at the School of Law, said she hopes the council will serve as an agency that "coordinates and enables kids to get the range of services that they need."
www.mddailyrecord.com
Judge Refuses to Declare Mistrial in Children's Murders
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 27
Jurors are back in the courtroom today for Day 10 of their deliberations. Abraham Dash, JD, a professor at the School of Law, commented on the length of the deliberations, saying "Nine or 10 days of deliberations is pretty long even for a five-week trial."
www.baltimoresun.com
Jurors In Murder Trial Continue to Deliberate
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 23
WBAL-TV, 11 p.m. - Aug. 26
Jurors weighing the fate of two Mexican men accused of murdering three children have submitted more than 60 written questions to the judge. Andrew Levy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, said allowing jurors to ask questions during a trial is a growing trend to get them more involved in the process.
Listen Up
The Sun Journal - Aug. 28
Michael Miller, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine, has found a connection between laughter and increased dilation of the blood vessels to improve blood flow.
www.newbernsj.com
UM Institute to Aid China in Its Fight to Halt AIDS
Baltimore Sun - Aug. 29
The University of Maryland Institute for Human Virology (IHV) is signing an agreement with China today to assist that country in finding appropriate drug treatments against AIDS and to train Chinese doctors in the care of people with AIDS. China will send researchers to work in the IHV laboratories on West Lombard Street. Robert Gallo, MD, director of the IHV and a professor in the School of Medicine, will sign the agreement on behalf of the Institute.
www.baltimoresun.com
US Drags Feet on WMD Medications
World Net Daily - Aug. 26
The manufacturer of a new anti-radiation drug says the federal government is dragging its feet on a program to provide money to help with WMD-related medications research and development. The article cited the testimony that Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, gave to Congress last month in which he said, "Department of Homeland Security's lassitude in supervising the making of material threat findings is mystifying."
www.worldnetdaily.com
August 26 update.
Alba Therapeutics Corporation Closes on $30 Million in Financing Using UMB Intellectual Property
BlackEnterprise.Com ý Aug. 23
The Business wire.com ý Aug. 22
The Baltimore Sun ý Aug. 24
PharmaLive.com ý Aug. 23
Alba Therapeutics Corporation, an early stage biopharmaceutical company focused on zonulin pathway modulation, today announced the closing of its $30 million Series A financing. Alba's platform is based on more than 10 years of research and an extensive intellectual property foundation licensed from the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
www.blackenterprise.com
www.baltimoresun.com
www.pharmalive.com
Bioterror Readiness Called To Task
Newsday.com - Aug 26
Some experts, lawmakers, and government officials have warned that government bureaucracy is slowing the effort to make the country safe from terrorist attacks. "We've taken the first step in the 1,000-step journey, but it's taken 15 months to do that, which means it's going to be a long time before the journey is complete," said Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland's Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.newsday.com
Development Finally Jumping to the Other Side of MLK Boulevard
The Daily Record - Aug 26
Spurred by the city's $100 million redevelopment plan and the University of Maryland, Baltimore's planned $100 million, six-building biotech park, developers are giving the neighborhood of Poppleton a second look.
Financing Provided for New Treatment for Cerebral Stroke using UMB Intellectual Property
The Deal - Aug. 23
Early-stage drug developer Remedy Pharmaceuticals Inc. of New York has secured an undisclosed amount of seed financing to fund research of new treatments for cerebral stroke. The company was recently founded by Carrot Capital Healthcare Ventures of New York, which provided initial funding, and will use intellectual property licensed from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Remedy Pharmaceuticals' first product, Neurocurate, will be an intravenous form of glyburide that may provide a new way to save neural tissue and improve stroke-related morbidity and mortality.
Nursing School Buys 'Baby' for $30k to Train Students
The Daily Record - Aug 26
The University of Maryland School of Nursing is among the first nursing schools in the country to use an innovative simulator infant mannequin to allow students to practice typical procedures, a technology that could avert thousands of medical errors each year.
Project Bioshield Shows Little Progress
Investor's Business Daily - Aug 22
More than one year after it was launched, Project Bioshield has not kept pace with its goal of providing stockpiles of drugs used to treat Americans in the case of biological, chemical, and radiological attacks. "The government is moving at a snail's pace with no sense of urgency. This thing could never get off the ground. The government created a program, and nobody thought to make it work," said Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Marylandýs Center for Health and Homeland Security.
Report Forecasts Growing Shortage of Skilled Labor
The Montgomery County Gazette - Aug 26
A new report from Prince George's Community College predicts the nation's work force will be short by 10 million workers in five years. In 2004, the vacancy rate for registered nurses at Maryland hospitals dropped to 9.2 percent, compared with a high of 15.6 percent in 2001, but that rate is expected to increase again. "There is no quick solution to the nursing faculty shortage," said Kathryn Montgomery, PhD, RN, associate dean at School of Nursing.
www.gazette.net
Some Video Games Have a Positive Side
The Nashua Telegraph Online - Aug. 26
A small number of game makers are developing games designed to spur young players to exercise, focus, monitor their health, and even relax. The story includes a reference to an initiative called Games for Health, which will be held next month at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The conference will bring together health care professionals and game creators to discuss potential collaborations on games that help children with cancer manage their disease.
www.nashuatelegraph.com
August 24 update.
Greenberger in the News
WUSA-TV Ch 9 - Aug 24
Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law, commented on a recent government warning that terrorists may pose as homeless to conduct surveillance of buildings and mass transit facilities. The advisory is part of a broader attempt to make citizens, especially those who use transit systems, aware of things "that seem to be out of place," Greenberger said.
Levin to Chair National Museum of Dentistry
The Baltimore Business Journal - Aug. 22
Roger P. Levin, chief executive of Baltimore-based dental consulting firm Levin Group, has been named chairman of the board of visitors at the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
baltimore.bizjournals.com
August 23 update.
Baltimore Man Bets Life on New Heart Pump
The Washington Times - Aug. 21
Baltimore Business Journal - Aug. 15
The Associated Press - Aug. 19
A Baltimore man became the first person in the United States to receive a new-generation heart pump that physicians hope will eventually become a transplant alternative. The operation took place at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where doctors, who are also professors at the School of Medicine, have been heavily involved in testing the new device.
washingtontimes.com
baltimore.bizjournals.com
www.kfmb.com
Disputed Practice Still a Courtroom Fixture
The Dallas Morning News - Aug. 22
Peremptory challenges-the right to dismiss jurors without reasonýin jury trials are surviving calls for reform despite decades of controversy and a recent statement by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer that ýa jury system without peremptories is no longer unthinkable.ý After a high court ruling in 1935 that blacks could not be excluded from juries by law or practice, prosecutors began routinely using their peremptory strikes to remove them, says Doug Colbert, JD, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law.
www.dallasnews.com
Research Says a Funny Flick is a Healthy Flick
The Herald Bulletin - Aug. 23
A cardiovascular study performed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and unveiled at the American College of Cardiology in Orlando has revealed a need for more movies starring comedian Bill Murray and fewer flicks celebrating the dead.
www.theheraldbulletin.com
August 22 update.
Baltimore Man Bets Life on New Heart Pump
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 20
The Houston Chronicle - Aug. 20
A Baltimore man became the first person in the United States to receive a new-generation heart pump that physicians hope will eventually become a transplant alternative. The operation took place at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where doctors have been heavily involved in testing the new devices.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.chron.com
M.R.I. Scanners' Strong Magnets Are Cited in a Rash of Accidents
ABC Good Morning America - 8 a.m. Aug. 22
The New York Times recently reported more than 10,000 magnetic resonance scanners are in operation, and as the number and power of the scanners continues to increase, the number of careless accidents also has increased. Moriel NessAiver, PhD, an assistant professor of diagnostic radiology in the School of Medicine, was interviewed by "Good Morning America" and demonstrated safety precautions that are taken at the University of Maryland Medical Center to protect against these accidents.
media.umaryland.edu:8080
Verdicts Overturned Because of Police Errors
The Washington Post - Aug. 19
Two Maryland appellate courts have overturned the men's convictions, holding that Prince George's police detectives violated their rights in obtaining videotaped statements. "If suspects assert their rights to an attorney and it's repeatedly ignored, it suggests not only a lack of training, but a lack of commitment to the Fifth Amendment" (the right against self-incrimination), said Michael Pinard, JD, assistant professor at the School of Law.
August 18 update.
Fabulous and Fit After 40
The Chicago Tribune - Aug. 17
Women in their 40s often need to work extra hard to stay healthy and in shape. "If you think about it, you're no longer chasing kids and lifting them in and out of a Dodge Caravan," said Pamela Peeke, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine. "You need to make up for the difference."
www.chicagotribune.com
Jury Deliberates in Children's Murder Trial
WBAL-TV Ch. 11, 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. - Aug 17
WBAL-TV Ch. 11, 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. - Aug. 18
The jury is continuing to deliberate the fate of two men charged with killing their three young relatives last year in Baltimore. Andrew Levy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, commented on the difficult job the jurors have and how the deliberations have been going so far.
Orientation for Incoming Law Students
The Daily Record - Aug. 17
The School of Law welcomes its new students this week. "It's one of the best times of the year," said Tricia O'Neill, JD, assistant dean for Student Affairs at the School of Law. "We're in a wonderful position because we get to greet them at the beginning."
www.mddailyrecord.com
People Avoiding Gluten Try Alternative Grains
The Winston-Salem Journal - Aug. 17
This feature, about a North Carolina-based bakery serving gluten-free foods for people with celiac disease, cites a 2003 study by the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research that found one in 133 Americans suffer from the disease.
www.timesdispatch.com
Race Gap Lingers in Medical Treatment
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 17
Disparities in health care between white and minority patients continues, and in some cases widens, according to three new major studies. While alarming, the results will likely inspire academic health centers to find out why such gaps exist, responded Claudia Baquet, MD, MPH, associate dean for policy and planning and associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com
August 16 update.
Celiac Patients Push for Gluten-Free Products
The Capital (Annapolis, MD) - Aug. 15
Grocery stores are now carrying gluten-free items to cater to the millions of people with celiac disease. "Celiac disease is an incurable, lifelong condition," said Pam Cureton, a clinical dietitian at the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Disease.
www.hometownannapolis.com
Minimally Invasive Surgery Center to Open Next Year
The Daily Record - Aug. 15
Baltimore Business Journal - Aug. 15
The Surgical Simulation and Technology Center, a training facility with the authentic look and feel of an operating room, will open next year at the School of Medicine. The center will be a resource for both medical students and trained surgeons looking to perfect their skills in minimally invasive surgery, said Adrian E. Park, MD, Chief of General Surgery at the School of Medicine.
www.mddailyrecord.com
baltimore.bizjournals.com
More Mentally Ill Are Being Jailed
The Patriot News - Aug. 15
About 16 percent of inmates have a serious mental illness, which is a rate that is three to five times higher than the general population. Mentally ill prisoners serve about 15 months longer than other inmates because they are more likely to "act out" and be disciplined, said Fred C. Osher, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine.
www.pennlive.com
August 15 update.
Maryland's Homeland Security Center
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 13
The Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center has fielded thousand of tips and requests for information from law enforcement officials about suspects' potential links to terrorism and other crimes since 2003. But Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, says the new coordination center lacks necessary resources and that the database of potential terror suspects is too vast and incomplete.
www.baltimoresun.com
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Moving to BioPark?
The Daily Record - Aug. 12
Maryland's Chief Medical Examiner's Office may relocate to the campus of the BioPark in West Baltimore. "We'd like to continue the strong relationship the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has with the University of Maryland, a long history and tradition of partnership and collaboration," said Jane M. Shaab, senior director of business development for the University's Office of Research and Development.
www.mddailyrecord.com
UM To Help Astronauts Learn Space Medicine
Desertnews.com - Aug. 15
The School of Medicine received a $1.6 million, four-year grant to design a multimedia tutorial to guide astronauts through emergency procedures in space. The tutorial will replace the more than 1,000-page medical information index currently in use, said F. Jacob Seagull, PhD, director of Performance Technology Research in the Program in Trauma and an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the School of Medicine.
deseretnews.com
August 12 update.
Beating Jet Lag
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 12
Science is still trying to catch up with modern travel's big problem: jet lag. Symptoms can become even worse for people as they age, said Teodor Postolache, MD, director of the School of Medicine's Mood and Anxiety Program.
www.baltimoresun.com
Blair Anti-Terrorism Plan Rekindles U.S. Civil Liberties Debate
Religion News Service - Aug. 11
Civil liberties activists say British Prime Minister Tony Blair's tough new anti-terrorism plan has troubling implications for the United States. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, said, "God forbid there's another serious attack, but if there is, and foreign nationals are involved, I would expect the same debate taking place here."
www.religionnewsservice.com
Bundled Vaccines Don't Weaken Immunity
Newsday ý Aug. 11
Palm Beach Post ý Aug. 10
Concord Monitor ý Aug.10
A 10-year study by Danish researchers found no evidence that combination vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella shot, weakened childrenýs immune systems. The study "should be reassuring to parents," said Margaret B. Rennels, MD, a professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.
www.newsday.com
www.palmbeachpost.com
www.concordmonitor.com
No Immediate Distribution of the Avian Flu Vaccine
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 12
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Aug. 11
Fort Worth Star-Telegram - Aug. 10
Despite this week's news that the government has successfully tested a vaccine to protect people against the avian flu, public health authorities say they have no plans to distribute the vaccine in the immediate future. The School of Medicine is one of three sites around the country where the vaccine is being tested.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.ajc.com
www.dfw.com
The Question of Terrorist Cells in the U.S.
The Sierra Times - Aug. 10
Prompted by new charges that a Maryland paramedic provided information to terrorists, the question about how to root out extremist cells in the U.S. remains unanswered. "Measured against [FBI Director Robert] Mueller's very confident assertion that there are hundreds of individuals who are members of sleeper cells in the U.S., these arrests don't indicate to me that we are making progress," said Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law.
www.sierratimes.com
August 11 update.
Blair Anti-Terrorism Plan Rekindles U.S. Civil Liberties Debate
Newhouse News Service - Aug. 9
Civil liberties activists say British Prime Minister Tony Blair's tough new anti-terrorism plan has troubling implications for the United States. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, said, "God forbid there's another serious attack, but if there is, and foreign nationals are involved, I would expect the same debate taking place here."
www.newhousenews.com
Harbor Bank Expanding Its Reach
The Baltimore Business Journal - Aug. 10
Expansion plans by minority-owned Harbor Bank include a new branch at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, BioPark's soon-to-open first building.
baltimore.bizjournals.com
Steroids Suspension
The Maryland Gazette - Aug. 10
The suspension of baseball player Rafael Palmeiro, who tested positive for using steroids, has called attention to unregulated health supplements that may contain prohormones. Anthony Tommasello, PhD, associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and director of the Office of Substance Abuse Studies, explained that prohormones are substances that are converted by the body into steroids.
www.hometownannapolis.com
Terror Attack Preparation
WUSA-TV Ch. 9 - Aug. 10
Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, commented on the Department of Defenseýs plans to respond militarily within the U.S. to a terrorist attack. He also commented about Congressman Curt Weldon's (R-Pennsylvania) assertion that the 9/11 commission overlooked important evidence.
UM To Help Astronauts Learn Space Medicine
The Daily Record - Aug. 8
The School of Medicine received a $1.6 million, four-year grant to design a multimedia tutorial to guide astronauts through emergency procedures in space. The tutorial will replace the more than 1,000-page medical information index currently in use, said F. Jacob Seagull, PhD, director of Performance Technology Research in the Program in Trauma and an assistant professor of anesthesiology at the School of Medicine.
www.mddailyrecord.com
August 10 update.
Baltimore Man Charged with Terror Conspiracy
WBFF-TV Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - Aug. 5
Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, commented on news that a Baltimore man had been charged with conspiracy to provide information to terrorists.
Baltimore Man Charged with Terror Conspiracy
WJZ-TV Ch. 13, 5 p.m. 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. - Aug. 5
Kate Christensen, JD, associate director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security at the School of Law, discussed terror conspiracy charges against a Baltimore man and his admission that he attended terrorist training camps in Pakistan.
Bundled Vaccines Don't Weaken Immunity
Los Angeles Times - Aug. 10
A 10-year study by Danish researchers found no evidence that combination vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella shot, weakened children's immune systems. The study "should be reassuring to parents," said Margaret B. Rennels, MD, a professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.
www.latimes.com
Bundled Vaccines Don't Weaken Immunity
The New York Times - Aug. 7
The Washington Post - Aug. 7
Government scientists say they have successfully tested in humans a vaccine that they believe can protect against the strain of avian influenza that is spreading in birds throughout Asia and Russia. The School of Medicine is one of three sites around the country where the vaccine is being tested.
www.nytimes.com
www.washingtonpost.com
DNA Evidence Found at a Local House
WBAL-TV Ch. 11, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. - Aug. 9
A DNA expert testified about evidence found at the Baltimore house where three young children were murdered. Andrew Levy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, discussed the strength of evidence and what it could mean for the two defendants.
Going Gluten Free
The Kansas City Star - Aug. 10
This story examines the gluten-free lifestyle of people suffering from celiac disease, citing a 2003 study by the University of Maryland Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Division at the School of Medicine. The study found one in 133 Americans suffers from the disease.
www.kansascity.com
Terror Watch List Arrest
WBFF-TV Ch. 45, 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. - Aug. 9
WJZ-TV Ch. 13, 5 p.m., 6p.m. and 11p.m. - Aug. 9
Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, was interviewed about a Baltimore County police officer who stopped a man for a routine traffic violation and discovered that he was listed on the national terror watch list.
The Question of Terrorist Cells in the U.S.
The Christian Science Monitor - Aug. 10
Prompted by new charges that a Maryland paramedic provided information to terrorists, the question about how to root out extremist cells in the U.S. remains unanswered. "Measured against [FBI Director Robert] Mueller's very confident assertion that there are hundreds of individuals who are members of sleeper cells in the U.S., these arrests don't indicate to me that we are making progress," said Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law.
www.csmonitor.com
August 9 update.
New Kidney Makes the Heart Improve
UPI - Aug. 8
University of Maryland doctors are finding that most patients with heart and kidney failure who have undergone kidney transplant find their heart works better. Ravinder Wali, MD, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, said the findings suggest that patients with the double problem of heart and kidney failure should be given priority for kidney transplants.
Rx? No Thanks.
The Washington Times - Aug. 9
Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH, an assistant professor at the School of Medicine, describes the two types of people that tend to fall under the broader category of people who choose not take prescription drugs when dealing with health challenges.
washingtontimes.com
August 8 update.
Baltimore Man Charged with Terror Conspiracy
WBAL-TV Ch. 11 - Aug. 4
Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, commented on yesterdayýs news that a Baltimore man is charged with conspiracy to provide information to terrorists. Greenberger said although the arrest is a very serious matter, it doesn't look like Baltimore is a "first-line" terror threat.
In Death, A Wife's Gift of Life
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 8
Marian and Rafi Sharif entered the University of Maryland Medical Center, expecting him to receive a methadone user's kidney. But a brain hemorrhage killed Marian and made her the source of Rafi's new organ. "If somebody would tell you a story like this, you would not believe it," said Luis Campos, MD, an assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine and the transplant surgeon who had the idea to salvage new hope from the family's loss. "It is incredibly tragic. But in a sense, Mr. Sharif was able to make something good out of it."
www.baltimoresun.com
New Condos on West Side
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 8
The historic Rombro building at 22 Howard St. is undergoing a $6 million renovation into the west side's first condominium projects. The condos are expected to appeal to people working or studying at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.baltimoresun.com
Supplements: Lack of Testing Makes Them a Dicey Choice
The Annapolis Capital - Aug. 7
Regarding the Rafael Palmeiro imbroglio, steroid building blocks known as prohormones-which may not be listed on supplement labels-could cause a positive test for steroids, said Anthony C. Tommasello, PhD, a professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the Office of Substance Abuse Studies at the School. "Some are extracts of natural products that are also metabolized into anabolic hormones, but the substances are not on the banned list," said Tommasello.
www.hometownannapolis.com
Test of Avian Flu Vaccine Succeeds
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 7
Government scientists say they have successfully tested in humans a vaccine that they believe can protect against the strain of avian influenza that is spreading in birds throughout Asia and Russia. The School of Medicine is one of three sites around the country where the vaccine is being tested.
www.baltimoresun.com
August 4 update.
4th Circuit Revives Libel Suit Against Newspaper
The Daily Record - Aug. 4
Mark Graber, JD, PhD, a professor at the School of Law, analyzed the decision of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to revive scientist Steven Hatfillýs libel suit against The New York Times.
www.mddailyrecord.com
BioPark Gets Research Center as First Tenant
RedNOVA News - Aug. 2
A University of Maryland School of Medicine research center, the first tenant at the new biotechnology park in West Baltimore, could help foster collaboration between faculty and researchers and private entities, officials say. The Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases-formed last year with the recruitment of a team of researchers from the American Red Cross-moved into the building last month.
www.rednova.com
Celiac Patients Push for Gluten-Free Products
The York Dispatch - Aug. 3
Grocery stores are now carrying gluten-free items to cater to the millions of people with celiac disease. "Celiac disease is an incurable, lifelong condition," said Pam Cureton, a clinical dietitian at the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Disease.
www.yorkdispatch.com
Government Distribution of Vaccines
WTOP Radio - Aug. 3
Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, discussed how the government needs to improve its ability to deliver vaccines in the event of an avian flu pandemic or a bioterrorism attack.
Palmeiro Suspension Spotlights Unregulated Health Supplements
WBFF-TV Ch 45 ý 10 p.m. Aug. 3
WBFF-TV Ch 45 ý 7:30 a.m. Aug. 4
New York Post ý Aug. 3
WTOP Radio ý Aug. 3
WHFS Radio ý Aug.3
Following newspaper reports that baseball player Rafael Palmeiro tested positive for using stanozolol, Anthony Tommasello, PhD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the Office of Substance Abuse Studies, explained that stanozolol is a powerful steroid used for building muscles and could have been taken orally or by injections. The evening story was a taped interview. The morning story was a live interview in the studio.
Study Shows Accupuncture May Help Relieve Severe Dry Mouth
ReutersHealth.com ý July 4
HealthNews.com ý July 4
CancerPage.com ý July 4
Acupuncture appears to help relieve severe dry mouth, protecting people from the dental decay, speaking problems and oral ulcers that can accompany the condition, according to a small study by Warren M. Morganstein, DDS, retired associate dean of the University of Maryland Dental School and now an adjunct professor. Morganstein says that acupuncture can relieve dry mouth in several ways including increased blood flow to the salivary glands or boosted levels of chemicals in the body that help with saliva.
www.upmccancercenters.com
www.cpmc.org
www.cancerpage.com
Supreme Court Nomination
The Marc Steiner Show WYPR - Aug. 3
Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, an associate professor at the School of Law, discussed the nomination of Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court and how his tenure would impact the Court's decisions.
August 3 update.
Military Interrogators
WUSA-TV Ch 9 - July 20
In his weekly appearance on this Washington, D.C., news broadcast, Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor at the School of Law, commented on the news that Army interrogators and a secret CIA-sponsored group of Iraqi paramilitaries beat an Iraqi general to death during an interrogation in Iraq.
Palmeiro Suspension Spotlights Unregulated Health Supplements
WBAL-TV ý 5 p.m. & 6 p.m. Aug. 2
WBAL Radio ý 7 a.m. Aug. 3
BaltimoreSun.comý Aug. 3
Associated Press ý Aug. 2
The suspension of baseball player Rafael Palmeiro, who tested positive for using steroids, has called attention to unregulated health supplements which may contain prohormones. Anthony Tommasello, PhD, associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and director of the Office of Substance Abuse Studies, explained that prohormones are substances that are converted by the body into steroids.
www.baltimoresun.com
news.yahoo.com
msnbc.msn.com
www.nbc10.com
UMB Strikes Deal for Second Building
Daily Record - Aug. 3
The University of Maryland, Baltimore has struck a deal with a residential builder to develop the second building at the schoolýs biotechnology park in West Baltimore. Walter J. Skayhan of Baltimore-based WJS & Associates said his firm yesterday finalized a joint venture with Towson-based Townsend Capital to develop the $41 million building on a one-acre, three-lot parcel across West Baltimore Street from the parkýs recently completed 120,000-square-foot, $36 million first building.
www.mddailyrecord.com
August 2 update.
BioPark Gets Research Center as First Tenant
The Daily Record - Aug. 2
A University of Maryland School of Medicine research center, the first tenant at the new biotechnology park in West Baltimore, could help foster collaboration between faculty and researchers and private entities, officials say. The Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases-formed last year with the recruitment of a team of researchers from the American Red Cross-moved into the building last month.
Rafael Palmeiro's Steroids Suspension
WBAL-TV Ch. 11 5:30 pm and 11pm - Aug. 1
Tony Tommasello, PhD, associate professor and director of the University of Maryland Office of Substance Abuse Studies at the School of Pharmacy, said that Rafael Palmeiro could have tested positive for steroids by taking an over-the-counter product that is not a steroid but metabolizes in the body as a steroid.
The Impact of John Roberts on the U.S. Supreme Court
The Baltimore Sun - Aug. 1
Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law, talked about how Judge John G. Roberts Jr. would help define the limits of presidential power to conduct the war on terrorism if he is appointed to the Supreme Court.
www.baltimoresun.com
Will the U.S. Supreme Court Overturn Roe v. Wade?
The Record (Bergen County, NJ) - July 31
Mark Graber, JD, PhD, a professor at the School of Law, analyzed the probability and potential impact that overturning Roe v. Wade would have on the United States. "If Roe v. Wade is overruled, in a great many states, it will be Republicans who are stuck in an extremist position," said Graber.
www.bergen.com
August 1 update.
Analysis of Judge John Roberts' Record
The Associated Press - July 22
President Bush's pick to replace retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor will face intense questioning about his record on the D.C. Court of Appeals. Judge John Roberts has written about 40 majority opinions during the last two years, and Andrew Levy, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law said, "It's pretty dry technical stuff. It leaves people to reading the tea leaves like everyone else. I suspect the administration likes this just fine."
www.kingcountyjournal.com
Argument for Rehnquist's retirement
The Baltimore Sun - July 31
Mark Graber, JD, PhD, a professor at the School of Law, argued in an op-ed that U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist should step down based on the logic of his rulings about how the government should treat people with disabilities and illness.
www.baltimoresun.com
Filipino Nurses Recruited for Vacancies
WBAL-TV Ch 11 - 11 p.m. July 21
The shortage of nurses has prompted several Baltimore area hospitals to bring nurses from the Philippines to fill vacancies. The nurses are ýtrained for export,ý according to a local television report. American students at the University of Maryland School of Nursing were interviewed about the Filipino nurses. Student Ingrid Halvorson questioned whether the Filipino nurses are fully qualified. The story cites a shortage of teaching personnel as the reason why the School canýt graduate more nurses.
Grants to Help the Amish
The Nashua Telegraph - July 31
Alan Shuldiner, MD, a researcher at the School of Medicine and his colleagues at the Amish Research Clinic in Strasburg, Pa., are recipients of $10 million in National Institutes of Health grants. They are conducting a dozen large-scale studies of the Amish, including diabetes, heart and longevity studies.
www.nashuatelegraph.com
New Drug Benefit For Seniors Raises Concerns
WTOP Radio - Aug. 1
Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law, and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said that the federal government remains unprepared to respond to a bioterrorism attack, despite investing billions of dollars into homeland security.
New UMB Grad School Planned
MSNBC.com - Aug.1
The University of Maryland, Baltimore, plans to create a school of public health to generate more research dollars and offer a more affordable graduate education option for students. "Investigators with strong public health credentials are often reluctant to come to a university without a school of public health," University President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, wrote in a letter referenced in the article.
msnbc.msn.com
The Grave: The Ultimate House Call
Newsweek Periscope ý July 30
MSNBC.com ý July 30
At the School of Medicine's annual Historical Clinicopathological Conference, students and faculty have proposed diagnoses for everyone from Alexander the Great (typhoid fever complicated by Guillain-Barre syndrome) to Beethoven (syphilis) to Christopher Columbus (severe arthritis caused by an infection) and Florence Nightingale (bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders).
msnbc.msn.com
Will the U.S. Supreme Court Overturn Roe v. Wade?
The Seattle Times - July 27
Mark Graber, JD, PhD, a professor at the School of Law, analyzed the probability and potential impact that overturning Roe v. Wade would have on the United States. "If Roe v. Wade is overruled, in a great many states, it will be Republicans who are stuck in an extremist position," said Graber.
www.seattletimes.com
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