In the News

October 2004

Drug Importation Policies Debated
C-Span, 3:31 a.m. - Oct. 28

The U.S. government policy against drug importation was debated by Tom Perez, JD, assistant professor in the School of Law; Cynthia Boyle, PharmD, director of the Experiential Learning Program in the School of Pharmcy; William Hubbard, senior associate commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration; and Peter Rost, MD, vice president of Pfizer, Inc. David Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy, moderated the debate, which was conducted in the ceremonial moot courtroom of the School of Law.

John Walker Lindh Revisited
Mother Jones - Nov./Dec. 2004

The publication profiles John Lindh, an American captured in Afghanistan fighting for the Taliban, in an article, "John Walker Lindh Revisited: A Second Look at the Case of the American Taliban." Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, is quoted.

Rehnquist Illness May Lead to Supreme Court Shakeup
WBAL-AM Radio, 3:35 p.m. - Oct. 26

Robert V. Percival, JD, a professor in the School of Law, was interviewed about the potential impact on the Supreme Court if Chief Justice William Rehnquist is forced to step down because of his thyroid cancer. Percival says several major issues have been decided in recent years by only a single vote and a successor to Rehnquist could reshape the direction of the court's decisions.

Revelations in Iraq, Impact on the Election
WUSA-TV, 9 a.m. - Oct. 27

There have been recent revelations that nearly 400 tons of explosives had disappeared from an outpost in Iraq. Moreover, insurgents executed 49 U.S.-trained Iraqi National Guardsmen in an ambush over the weekend. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discusses these events and their potential impact on the Nov. 2 presidential election.

An Arresting Offer: Guns for Freedom
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 25

Guns for freedom trades have persisted in Baltimore for years, largely unchecked by police department leaders and entirely unsanctioned by the rest of the criminal justice system. Some experts contend that the deals struck are not legal or enforceable. Abraham Dash, JD, a professor in the School of Law, is quoted.
www.baltimoresun.com

Chief Justice Rehnquist Hospitalized
Metro Networks ý Oct. 25 - Afternoon Drive Time

Robert Percival, MA, JD, a professor in the School of Law, discusses the implications of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquistýs hospitalization on both the Court and the upcoming presidential election.

Chief Justice Rehnquist is Ailing
Newsday ý Oct. 26
Miami Herald ý Oct. 26
Knight-Ridder Newspapers ý Oct. 26 (7 Knight-Ridder newspapers so far)
WEAA Radio ý Oct. 26, 7:53 a.m., "The Anthony McCarthy Show"

The U.S. Supreme Court announced on Oct. 25 that Chief Justice William Rehnquist has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Says Robert Percival, MA, JD, a professor in the School of Law, "Chief Justice Rehnquist has had health problems in the past. But I don't think that anyone questions his ability to think and participate fully in the courtýs business.ý Percival tells Newsday, ýIt certainly will remind the public it's likely the President will be able to make at least two Supreme Court nominations, and given how closely split the court is, that could have a major impact."
www.newsday.com

EBR Health Unit Quickly Runs Out of Flu Vaccine
The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) - Oct. 22

Universal vaccination against the flu is an idea being championed by a School of Medicine researcher. "That will, then, force the hand of third-party payers to pay for the vaccine," says James King, MD, a pediatrics professor in the School who tests vaccines. "Unless we make it somewhat cost-effective for the companies to make vaccine, it would be insane for them to make it."
2theadvocate.com

Half-Dose Flu Shots for the Healthy?
Newsday - Oct. 20

James Campbell, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine, says "it is reasonable for policy-makers to be very cautious" in weighing the merits of half-strength vaccine, given the current shortage. Since each year's vaccine is different, specialists must decide whether half-doses of this yearýs vaccine would produce the same immune effect as in a study reported in 2002, according to Campbell.
www.newsday.com

National Youth Leadership Forum
El Paso Times - Oct. 22

Justin Ayoub, 16, a junior at Coronado (Texas) High School, was among about 350 pre-college-age students who recently participated in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law in Washington, D.C. Students who demonstrate academic achievement and an interest in the legal profession attend the forum, which featured visits to law schools, including the School of Law.

Rehnquist Illness Returns Attention to High Court Nominees
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 25

The future face of the U.S. Supreme Court gained urgency with the unexpected announcement that Chief Justice Rehnquist has thyroid cancer and also underwent a tracheotomy on Oct. 23 in connection with the illness. A tracheotomy sometimes follows surgery to remove a patient's thyroid, when surgeons may have inadvertently injured nerves controlling the vocal cords during the first surgery, says Rodney Taylor, MD, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine and a head and neck surgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.baltimoresun.com

UMB People in Baltimore Magazine
Baltimore Magazine - November 2004

Several professors and administrators at the University appear in different articles. Lindsay Alger, MD, a professor and director of undergraduate medical education in the School of Medicine's OB-GYN Department, discusses the shortage of doctors entering obstetrics. Thomas Scalea, MD, director of Shock Trauma and a professor in the School of Medicine, is one the people asked what they would do as mayor. President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, and his wife, Anne Ramsay, and Donald Wilson, MD, MACP, dean of the School of Medicine, and his wife, Patricia Wilson, are pictured.

Anti-Relapse Drug: Hope for Alcohol Addicts
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 24

A drug due on pharmacy shelves by January offers hope for millions of alcoholics in the United States and could help remove the stigma attached to the disease. The medical community has long understood alcoholism to be a disease process, "but trying to sell that to the public isn't easy. A lot of people still consider it a character issue," says Eric Weintraub, MD, an associate professor in the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Death Penalty Review Possible
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 22

For the first time since a study suggested that race plays a role in the state's application of the death penalty, Heath Burch, an African-American man, has been scheduled for execution. Meanwhile, John Booth, the only man on death row convicted in Baltimore, has filed legal papers that raise the issue of legal bias. Michael Millemann, JD, a professor in the School of Law and Booth's attorney, says he will argue next summer that the death penalty process is "racially biased from the beginning to the end."
www.baltimoresun.com

Flu Shot Shortage May Be Costly for Businesses
Associated Press - Oct. 22

This year's flu vaccine shortage could cost the nation up to $20 billion in lost productivity, almost twice as much as in a typical year. Parents of children vaccinated with FluMist missed 72 percent fewer days of work, according to a study in the School of Medicine that will be repeated in Maryland and three other states. The results were "almost too good. That's why we're repeating it," says James King, MD, a professor in the School.
www.sanmateocountytimes.com

Japanese Firm Taps UMB BioPark for East Coast Hub
Baltimore Business Journal - Oct. 22

A cover story reports on an agreement by the Japanese pharmaceutical research company Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Inc. to establish its new East Coast headquarters at the UMB BioPark at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Meanwhile, UPM Pharmaceuticals will take office space at the biopark to expand and boost collaboration with the university.

Major Depression at Age 5? Researchers Say It Can Happen
Annapolis Capital - Oct. 24

Mental health experts see preschoolers with psychiatric disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, behavioral disorders in which children severely injure other children, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In February 2000, Julie Magno Zito, MS, PhD, an associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine, stirred a national debate after her New England Journal of Medicine study estimated that 150,000 preschoolers were on psychotropic drugs in 1995, up from 100,000 in 1991. Since then the numbers have been on the rise.

More Flu Spray on the Way
CBS News.com - Oct. 22

FluMist, viewed as a resource to combat the flu shot shortage, contains a weakened live virus and cannot be used by those at highest risk for flu complications. It is approved only for healthy people ages 5 to 49. James King, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and a vaccine researcher in its Center for Vaccine Development, is quoted.
www.cbsnews.com

OB-GYNs Struggle with Rising Insurance Rates
Annapolis Capital - Oct. 24

Malpractice insurance rates are increasing so sharply for obstetrician/gynecologists that some are quitting or cutting back their practices. An Annapolis-area obstetrician notes that there has been a total of four graduates in the past two classes in the School of Medicine who are going into OB-GYN practice.

Studies Point to Change in How Schizophrenia is Classified
New Zealand Sunday Star-Times - Oct. 24

Recent studies question the conventional wisdom that schizophrenia affects all populations equally, suggesting, for instance, that it occurs five times more often in migrant populations. Given these complexities, many scientists wonder whether schizophrenia is actually a group of illnesses rather than a single illness. "Virtually all studies and diagnostic approaches treat it as a single disease although there is no evidence to support this assumption," says Will Carpenter, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and one of the most respected psychiatric experts in the United States.
www.stuff.co.nz

Terror Fears Don't Trump Constitution, Court Rules
The Daily Record - Oct. 19
Associated Press - Oct. 16

Fears of a terrorist attack are not sufficient reason for authorities to search people at a protest, a federal appeals court has ruled. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, says the ruling could have broader implications if it is used to challenge aspects of the Patriot Act.

Arthritis Responds to Weather, Acupuncture
United Press International - Oct. 19
Washington Post - Oct. 19

Researchers told attendees at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting that they have compiled valid data indicating changes in temperature or atmospheric pressure can cause increases in joint pain. Marc Hochberg, MD, MPH, a professor in the School of Medicine, says the studies " . . . allow us to conclude that traditional Chinese acupuncture is an effective intervention for the relief of pain and improvement of function in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee."
www.washingtonpost.com

City Ethics Proposal Pulled
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 19

The O'Malley Administration abruptly scrapped a bill on Oct. 18 that would have allowed elected city officials to accept season tickets to sporting events and given the mayor control over who directs Baltimoreýs Board of Ethics. The ethics board's director currently is appointed by a committee that includes the president of the Johns Hopkins University and the deans of the School of Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Homeland Security and the Election
WUSA-TV, 9 a.m. - Oct. 20

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discusses homeland security issues being raised by both major-party presidential candidates.

Major Depression at Age 5? Researchers Say It Can Happen
Kansas City Star - Oct. 15

Mental health experts see preschoolers with psychiatric disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, behavioral disorders in which children severely injure other children, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In February 2000, Julie Magno Zito, MS, PhD, an associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and the School of Medicine, stirred a national debate after her New England Journal of Medicine study estimated that 150,000 preschoolers were on psychotropic drugs in 1995, up from 100,000 in 1991. Since then the numbers have been on the rise.

Montgomery Drug Importation Panel Set, Will Seek Manager
Daily Record - Oct. 20

Several weeks after passing a resolution that paved the way for a plan to import prescription drugs from Canada, the Montgomery County Council has appointed a committee of pharmaceutical, medical, legal, and public health experts for advice. Appointing the committee is "yet another layer of due diligence that will help the public understand the seriousness with which we are approaching this enterprise," says Council member Thomas Perez, JD, an assistant professor in the School of Law.

New Flu Strategy Could Eliminate Shortage, Delay
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 16

In a letter to the editor, James King, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and a vaccine researcher in its Center for Vaccine Development, writes that "it would be advisable for committees such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the American Academy of Practices to recommend universal influenza vaccinations of all individuals in the United States, or at least of all American children."
www.baltimoresun.com

Project BioShield Contracts Never Materialized
Associated Press - Oct. 15 (The AP story has appeared in 80 publications so far)

Project BioShield was supposed to jump-start a national security renaissance in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries by guaranteeing contracts to make drugs for combating potential bioweapons. However, the project has generated indifference or frustration among biodefense contractors. "This industry is very fragile, and instead of growing itýs getting worse and worse everyday," says Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law. "When all is said and done, this industry is heading toward death."
www.ledger-enquirer.com

Steroid Ban Awaits Bush Signature
Northern Virginia Journal Newspapers - Oct. 19

The substance known as "andro," used by former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire in his effort to break Major League Baseballýs 37-year-old single-season home-run record in 1998, is on the verge of a nationwide ban if President Bush signs an anti-steroid bill into law this week. Tony Tommasello, PhD, an associate professor and director of the Office of Substance Studies in the School of Pharmacy, says that anabolic steroids have been medically proven to have dangerous effects for anyone who uses them.

Want to Get Together With Friends, Eat Good Food and Talk About Books?
Maryland Gazette - Oct. 16

Tips are offered for starting a book club, such as one initiated by a group of friends in the School of Social Work.

When Islamic Scholars Want to Come to America
The Chronicle of Higher Education - Oct. 20

In a letter to the editor, Robert Bloch, PhD, a professor in the School of Medicine, writes that Alan Wolfe's op-ed piece in the Chronicle, "Why America Should Welcome Tariq Ramadan," should never have appeared in a journal devoted to higher education. Bloch says Wolfe's piece contains innuendos and obfuscations and never provides convincing academic reasons for letting Ramadan enter the United States to teach at a prestigious university.

Project BioShield Contracts Never Materialized
Newsday - Oct. 16
WashingtonPost.com - Oct. 15
Associated Press - Oct. 15

Project BioShield was supposed to jump-start a national security renaissance in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries by guaranteeing contracts to make drugs for combating potential bioweapons. However, the project has generated indifference or frustration among biodefense contractors. "This industry is very fragile, and instead of growing it's getting worse and worse everyday," says Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law. "When all is said and done, this industry is heading toward death."
www.washingtonpost.com

Terror Fears Don't Trump Constitution, Court Rules
CNN.com - Oct. 16

Fears of a terrorist attack are not sufficient reason for authorities to search people at a protest, a federal appeals court has ruled. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, says the ruling could have broader implications if it is used to challenge aspects of the Patriot Act.
www.cnn.com

UMB Raises $8 Million for New Fund
Baltimore Business Journal - Oct. 18

More than $8 million has been raised for a newly established presidential scholarship fund at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, in honor of UMB President David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil. The fund has been established in honor of Ramsay because of the university's unprecedented growth during his 10 years as president. The fund includes $1 million gifts from John Gregory, an alumnus of the School of Pharmacy, and his wife; friends of former U.S. Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti, an alumnus of the School of Law; and Comcast Cable.
www.bizjournals.com

'Genuine Hero' Reeve Inspired Millions
Pittsburgh Tribune Review - Oct. 12

Actor Christopher Reeve never needed the red cape that made him famous. "Forget that he was Superman in the movies," said Bartley Griffith, MD, a professor of surgery in the School of Medicine and former director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine in Pittsburgh. Griffith met Reeve in Pittsburgh in 2001 when the actor-turned-activist spoke at the Engineering Tissue Growth Conference.
www.pittsburghlive.com

Closing of Senator's Office; FBI Plans for Election Day
WUSA-TV, 9 a.m. - Oct. 13

Sen. Mark Dayton of Minnesota said on Oct. 12 that he was closing his Capitol Hill office because of security concerns, in response to intelligence information shared with senators about terrorist threats. Meanwhile, the FBI is preparing its counterterrorism strategies for the Nov. 2 election. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discussed both developing issues.

E-Voting Group Sues Maryland Election Board
WashingtonPost.com - Oct. 12

A Maryland group seeking paper trails on touch-screen voting machines sued the State Board of Elections on Oct. 11 to win the right to monitor polling places on Election Day. The lawsuit also seeks the right for TrueVoteMD members to warn voters about possible problems with touch-screen voting machines while standing within 100 feet of Maryland polling places, traditionally a forbidden zone for electioneering. Says Larry Gibson, LLB, a professor in the School of Law, "Why can't they just stand right outside the 100-foot limit?"
www.washingtonpost.com

Electoral College
WBAL-TV, 5 p.m. - Oct. 14

Larry Gibson, LLB, a professor in the School of Law, says the Electoral College probably will survive as a structure adhered to in presidential elections because it protects the rights of small states.

Enemy Combatant Decisions
Knight Rider/Tribune News Service - Oct. 6

While the U.S. Supreme Court's enemy combatant decisions were a clear rebuke to the president, some lawyers say the decisions are so confusing that they are unlikely to help anyone involved win their freedom any time soon. A clear result of the decisions is that the Bush administration does not have unlimited power to hold someone as an enemy combatant without judicial review. Michael Millemann, JD, a professor in the School of Law, is quoted.

Flu Shot Shortage Shows Symptoms Fast
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 7

As patients and physicians deal with the shortage of influenza vaccine, the country's public health chief declares the need for a long-term remedy for a national vaccine supply system that critics say is flawed. James King, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and a vaccine researcher in its Center for Vaccine Development, is quoted.
www.baltimoresun.com

Homeland Security and the Presidential Election
"The World" ý BBC Radio via National Public Radio ý Oct. 13

Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discusses how the subject of homeland security would be raised during the Oct. 13 presidential debate in the context of a format devoted largely to domestic issues.
www.theworld.org

Hospitals Scramble to Stockpile Drugs for Treatment of Flu
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 9

There is just one commodity likely to be in greater demand than the vaccine used to prevent flu: the set of medicines doctors prescribe to treat it. Harold Standiford, MD, the medical director of infection control and a professor in the School of Medicine, says antiviral drugs will likely become critical this year.
www.baltimoresun.com

Presidential Election and the Supreme Court
WBAL-TV, 11 p.m. - Oct. 9

Michael Millemann, JD, a professor in the School of Law, discussed the impact a newly elected U.S. president may have on the composition of the Supreme Court bench. Students in Millemann's class gave their thoughts on the issue, as well.

Scholarship to Honor Benjamin Civiletti
Daily Record - Oct. 12

A photo and caption feature School of Law alumnus Benjamin Civiletti, a former U.S. Attorney General during the Carter administration and chair of the law firm Venable LLP, with Reena Shah, a first-year student in the School. Shah received the inaugural scholarship created at the School this year in Civiletti's name, which is given to a student who aspires to a career in public service.

Slower Than Expected, West Side Attracts New Businesses
Daily Record - Oct. 13

The "slow climb toward viability" for Baltimore's west side, including the recently opened University Suites at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, is profiled. The university is cited as "a major stabilizing factor in the neighborhood."

Surprise Tummy Twister
Buffalo News (NY) - Oct. 12

Celiac disease, once thought to be rare, turns out to be amazingly common and occurs in one of 133 people, according to a School of Medicine study of 13,000 women and men.

Whole Foods Opens its First Gluten-Free Bakehouse
Herald-Sun (Durham, NC) - Oct. 13

People with celiac disease are unable to eat foods that contain gluten, since this protein commonly found in grains can damage their small intestines and trigger such a wide array of symptoms that Alessio Fasano, MD, a professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine, has called the disease a "clinical chameleon." It can cause chronic diarrhea, gastrointestinal pain, unexplained weight loss, and blistering of the skin.

Career of Care Brings National Honor
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 12

Judith Schagrin, who received her master's degree from the School of Social Work in 1978, has been named 2004 Social Worker of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers. Schagrin is the assistant director of children's services at the Baltimore County Department of Social Services.
www.baltimoresun.com

Ethics at Issue in School Board Member's Job Search
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 12

Baltimore City school board member David Stone has quietly applied for a job in the school system, overseeing the city's charter schools. Ethics experts differ about whether it is an ethical conflict for a board member to seek employment in the school system that he helps govern. Says Abraham Dash, JD, a professor in the School of Law, "It'd be a lot better if he resigned before he applied. He places the board, obviously, in a rather awkward spot, since they'll be deciding who gets the job."
www.baltimoresun.com

Flu Vaccine Can Give You a Case of Influenza
New York Times - Oct. 12

This year the nation faces a severe shortage of flu vaccine, leading health officials to urge Americans to reserve flu shots for people at highest risk. Some people, though, are reluctant to get it. The most common side effect is a sore arm. A small percentage of people experience more severe reactions, such as mild illness, "but if you put it in perspective, it's still nothing compared to the real flu," says James King, MD, a professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine.
www.nytimes.com

Legal Aspects of Killing Pet Deer
WBAL-TV, 5:30 p.m. & 6 p.m. - Oct. 11

Mark Graber, JD, MA, PhD, a professor in the School of Law, discussed the legality of the state Department of Natural Resources choosing to kill several pet deer. Graber says that if the state reasonably believes that the deer could pose a health risk, the government has the right to act immediately.

Calculating the Value of Years Spent Unjustly in Prison
Houston Chronicle - Oct. 9

As DNA testing frees increasing numbers of innocents from prison, Maryland and other states must calculate the politically sensitive issue of the value of a life unjustly spent behind bars. A plaintiff would have to prove malicious misconduct, such as destroying evidence, to successfully win a suit against parties involved in a wrongful conviction, says Michael Millemann, JD, a professor in the School of Law.
www.chron.com

Household Medicine Abuses by the Young
Washington Post - Oct. 8

The nationýs pharmacy giants are taking precautions in response to a trend that doctors and anti-drug abuse activists say could grow into an epidemic: teenagers and young adults using medicine to get high. Linda Simoni-Wastila, PhD, an associate research professor in the School of Pharmacy and an expert on youth prescription drug abuse, says perhaps the best way to combat the trend is through improvements in the drugs themselves.
www.washingtonpost.com

Merck Pulls Vioxx, Cites Side Effects
National Public Radio program "Marketplace" - Oct. 7

Merck & Co. pulled its blockbuster painkiller Vioxx from the market on Sept. 30 after identifying an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, prompting patients to begin switching to alternatives. Frank Palumbo, PhD, JD, a professor in the School of Pharmacy and director of its Center on Drugs and Public Policy, was interviewed.

Terrorism and the Presidential Election
WBAL-TV, 11 p.m. - Oct. 8

The Baltimore division of the FBI is concerned about terrorist attacks connected to the Nov. 2 presidential election. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, thinks that terrorists are more likely to strike on a random day, rather than before or on the election day itself.

Church Has Already Addressed Problem of Celiac Disease
Buffalo News - Oct. 5

A letter to the editor corrects a prior letter that stated that the Catholic Church should address the needs of celiac disease sufferers. The writer argues that the Church has approved the use of communion bread containing 0.01 percent gluten and has made it acceptable to consecrate the modified wafer. The center for Celiac Research in the School of Medicine calls these Eucharistic hosts "perfectly acceptable" for people who have the disease.
www.buffalonews.com

Detective's Testimony May Hurt Shooting Case, Prosecutor Says
Baltimore Sun ý Oct. 6

While the testimony of investigating officers is often essential in criminal trials, a Baltimore prosecutor says he may have a greater chance of winning a conviction in an attempted-murder case without the word of two city detectives who are being investigated for perjury. "There are many individual cases where you don't need the investigating officer," observes Abraham Dash, JD, a professor in the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Jamal Lewis Plea Bargain
WYPR Radio-88.1 FM - 6 a.m., 8 a.m. - Oct. 8

Doug Colbert, JD, a professor in the School of Law, discusses the decision by Baltimore Ravens star running back Jamal Lewis to enter a guilty plea to charges of using a cell phone to facilitate a drug trade, rather than stand trial in what Colbert calls "a winnable case." Colbert notes the pressure on defendants in Lewis' position to accept pleas to a lesser charge, given the rigid sentencing guidelines that federal judges must apply for more serious charges.

Retiree Health Insurance: In Need of Critical Care?
Daily Record - Oct. 1

Alan Lyles, a senior fellow at the Center for Drugs and Public Policy in the School of Pharmacy, states in an opinion column that current trends for private retiree health insurance are bleak. In 1988, 66 percent of large employers offered private health insurance. By 2004, only 36 percent do. Given Medicare's forecasted insolvency, Lyles writes, retirees and other older Americans may return to the economic and medical deprivations of the Great Depression.

Flu Vaccine Shortage Spurs a Call for Fast-Output Method
Sacramento Bee - Oct. 7

Scientists and government officials say the sudden shortage of flu vaccine could be avoided if more investments were made in vaccine manufacturing techniques that did not rely on millions of fertilized hens' eggs. Meanwhile, James King, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and a researcher at its Center for Vaccine Development, says that what is needed more urgently are more firms willing to make influenza vaccine.
www.sacbee.com

Good Drug, Bad Customers
Wall Street Journal - Oct. 6

The newspaper's "Business World" columnist discusses the FDA's recall of the medication Vioxx, a "COX-2 inhibitor" (a class of drugs which selectively inhibit COX-2, an enzyme involved in the inflammation pathway). A study by Bruce Stuart, PhD, a professor in the School of Pharmacy and director of its Peter Lamy Center for Drug Therapy and Aging, examined thousands of patient records and found that whether a patient took a COX-2 or a cheaper drug was determined less by medical need than by whether or not an insurance company was picking up the cost.

Flu Vaccine Shortage and Rationing Loom
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 6

The supplier of half the countryýs influenza vaccine stunned public health officials on Oct. 5 by announcing it would provide no doses this year, prompting a scramble to ration the available shots as the flu season approaches. "It certainly puts everything in an uproar. I think people have to rethink very carefully how they use their supply of flu vaccine," says James King, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and researcher at its Center for Vaccine Development.
www.baltimoresun.com

Muslim Lawyer Sues FBI, Ashcroft for Wrongful Imprisonment
Statesman (Ore.) Journal - Oct. 5

The Portland lawyer arrested by FBI agents after his fingerprint was incorrectly matched to one found near the Madrid train bombings filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming he was singled out because of his Muslim faith. "This case is not only an embarrassment itself, but one in a long line of embarrassments," says Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law. "Not only has the Justice Department failed to successfully prosecute these cases, they've ended up becoming defendants."
news.statesmanjournal.com

Putting a Price on Pain
Washington Post - Oct. 4
Concord Monitor - Oct. 4

As DNA testing frees increasing numbers of innocents from prison, Maryland and other states must calculate the politically sensitive issue of the value of a life unjustly spent behind bars. A plaintiff would have to prove malicious misconduct, such as destroying evidence, to successfully win a suit against parties involved in a wrongful conviction, says Michael Millemann, JD, a professor in the School of Law.
www.washingtonpost.com
www.concordmonitor.com

Vaccine Scarcity Might Aid Producer of FluMist
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 6

The sudden disruption of the nation's flu-shot supply should help MedImmune Inc. win broader near-term acceptance of its troubled Flu-Mist nasal spray vaccine after a debut year in which it had minimal success because of its relatively high price and limitations on its use. "I think it's a great product," says vaccine researcher James Campbell, MD, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine and researcher at its Center for Vaccine Development. "I think that, over time, it will rebound."
www.baltimoresun.com

African-Americans Encouraged to Become Organ Donors
Baltimore Afro-American - Sept. 10, 17, and 24

In a three-part series, authorities on transplant surgery in the School of Medicine explain the benefits of organ donations. Interviewed are Stephen Gottlieb, MD, and Bartley Griffith, MD, professors in the School, and Clarence Foster, MD, an assistant professor in the School.

Gross Anatomy Class
National Public Radio - Sept. 17

National Public Radio airs the first of a four-part series about the gross anatomy class in the School of Medicine. First-year medical students are interviewed on their opening day of class, and Larry Anderson, PhD, a professor in the School, offers words of encouragement and caution.
www.npr.org

Heart Pump Comparison
Owings Mills Times - Sept. 15

Richard Pierson, MD, an associate professor in the School of Medicine, discusses a national study comparing two different heart pumps as a permanent treatment for advanced heart failure.

Homeland Security Lacks Substance, Experts Complain
Newhouse News Service - Oct. 4

Homeland security experts lament that few details are emerging from the campaign rhetoric that is intensifying during the 2004 presidential election campaign. "The president has been able to dominate the debate by conveying a psychological aura of being better prepared," says Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law. Kerry, by contrast, has been "long on rhetorical flourish and short on punchy facts."

Justices to Review Sentencing Issues, Wire Fraud Case
Daily Record - Oct. 1

The Supreme Court's new term is previewed. On the national level, this term is shaping up to be distinctly low key for the nine justices. With a presidential election very much on the horizon, that might be the way they want it, particularly after their role in the 2000 election. "It's politically boring," Mark Graber, PhD, MA, JD, a professor in the School of Law, says of the current docket, "but there are a lot of issues that are of interest to academics."

Meditative Practice Gaining Credibility
Newsweek - Oct. 4

The Center for Integrative Medicine in the School of Medicine teaches a meditative practice called Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. With its roots in ancient Buddhist traditions, mindfulness is now gaining ground as an antidote for everything from type-A stress to chronic pain, depression, and even the side effects of cancer treatment.
www.msnbc.msn.com

Muslim Lawyer Sues FBI, Ashcroft for Wrongful Imprisonment
Associated Press - Oct. 4
The Oregonian - Oct. 4

The Portland lawyer arrested by FBI agents after his fingerprint was incorrectly matched to one found near the Madrid train bombings files a lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming he was singled out because of his Muslim faith. "This case is not only an embarrassment itself, but one in a long line of embarrassments," says Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law. "Not only has the Justice Department failed to successfully prosecute these cases, they've ended up becoming defendants."
www.oregonlive.com

Surgery to Separate Two Girls
WJZ-TV - Sept. 11 and 12

Doctors at Johns Hopkins Children's Center operated for 18 hours to separate 1-year-olds Lea and Tabea Block, who had been joined at the head. The surgery on the German youngsters was halted because of complications for Tabea. Eric Strauch, MD, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine, discusses the issues surrounding the surgery.

Hopkins BioPark Bids Down to Three
Baltimore Business Journal - Oct. 4

Three teams of developers are vying to develop the first piece of the proposed new life sciences park next to the Johns Hopkins medical campus in East Baltimore. City leaders hope that with the University of Maryland, Baltimore, also developing a biotech complex, the city will become a center of such activity.
www.bizjournals.com

Justices Take Up Sentencing Guidelines
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 4

The U.S. Supreme Court justices picked the court's opening day to hear appeals from the Justice Department in two cases about the constitutionality of sentencing guidelines. "I don't think this term is like last term, where the terrorism cases and the Cheney case were obviously very big cases," says Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law. "But there are some very interesting and important cases."
www.baltimoresun.com

Nutrition for a Healthy Smile
CBS NewYork.com - Oct. 4

Non-cola drinks and canned iced tea are especially harmful to teeth; they weaken and destroy tooth enamel, according to a pilot study published in General Dentistry. Researchers from the Dental School exposed healthy dental enamel to a variety of popular beverages over a period of 14 days. They found that non-cola soft drinks, like Mountain Dew, Sprite, and ginger ale, caused two to five times as much erosion damage as darker drinks, such as Coke, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper.
cbsnewyork.com

Snuffing Out Smoking Among the Mentally Ill
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 4

In the School of Medicine, researchers are conducting a study to examine what happens when therapists ask patients who smoke whether they want to quit, and then explore options if the answer is yes. "We're used to hearing people not wanting to tackle this problem," says Lisa Dixon, MD, a professor in the School, who leads the study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "They say, 'These people have such terrible lives. They can't quit anyway.' But to say we shouldn't want to work with them to try is not fair."
www.baltimoresun.com

Sucking or Chewing Aspirin Damages Teeth
USNews & World Report - Oct. 1

Researchers in the Dental School reviewed existing scientific literature in search of cases where mouth and tooth damage were likely caused by aspirin, and then reported two cases of their own. Two patients who chewed multiple aspirin tablets every day for an extended period of time came to the Brotman Facial Pain Center in Baltimore. Both had significant enamel erosion caused by persistent exposure to aspirin.
www.usnews.com

Unified Watch List of Terror Suspects Still Not Complete
Los Angeles Times - Oct. 3
ContraCostaTimes.com - Oct. 4

Three years after breakdowns in coordination between federal security agencies contributed to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Department of Homeland Security has failed in its effort to create a single, comprehensive "watch list" of suspected terrorists, according to a new government report. The absence of a unified list is "a fundamental flaw in the system," says Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law.
www.latimes.com
www.contracostatimes.com

9/11 Commissioner Gorelick Speaks At School of Law
WYPR radio, Morning Drive - Sept. 30

The 9/11 commemoration at the School of Law, featuring a talk by 9/11 Commissioner Jamie Gorelick, is profiled in a 4-minute news piece. Law students Tara Russ and Christina Durran are also interviewed.

AFSCME Battles UMB
Daily Record - Sept. 29

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) filed charges on Sept. 28 with the State Higher Education Labor Relations Board against the University of Maryland, Baltimore, alleging that the school's "intransigence on the issue of parking fees" is a principal reason contract negotiations with workers represented by AFSCME have gone on for two years without result.

Alleged Delays in FBI Translations; John Lindh Case
WUSA-TV, 9 a.m. - Sept. 29

A new Justice Department audit shows that the FBI is still failing to translate many al-Qaida surveillance recordings in a timely manner and faces a giant backlog of untranslated material from terrorism and espionage investigations. Meanwhile, in another issue involving the war on terror, attorneys have filed a request for a commuted sentence for John Lindh, an American captured in Afghanistan fighting for the Taliban. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School of Law, discussed both developing issues.

Biotechnology Challenges State's Greatest Minds
Daily Record - Sept. 24

Biotechnology is discussed in a roundtable interview with several area business leaders. Michael Baader, chair of the Business Transactions Group at Venable LLP, says there is more activity around biotech and life-science companies in the region than ever, with the biopark projects for Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, representing more than $1 billion of investment.

Developer Plans Hotel On Vacant, Tiny Baltimore Lot
Daily Record - Sept. 24

A Virginia developer is planning to build a hotel in the shadows of Camden Yards on a vacant Baltimore lot barely large enough to be used for parking. Next Realty Mid-Atlantic LLC presented plans on Sept. 23 for an eight-story, 126-room limited service hotel at the corner of Washington Boulevard and Greene Street, a site strategically nestled among Oriole Park, the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a residential neighborhood.

Drinking Soda Terrible for Teeth
Mansfield (Ohio) News Journal - Sept. 25

Recent studies at the Dental School have tested enamel dissolution by the major brands of soda. Clear sodas such as Mountain Dew (the worst) and Sprite caused the most loss of tooth enamel. While still harmful to one's teeth, the dark colas were not as bad. Also, diet soda still causes cavities because of the high acid content.
nl.newsbank.com

Gluten in Wheat Can Damage Small Intestine
Washington Times - Sept. 30

Studies show 1 out of 133 persons nationwide have celiac disease (an intolerance to the gluten protein found in wheat, rye and barley). A research team in the School of Medicine, started by Alessio Fasano, MD, a professor of pediatrics in the School, is developing a pill to block a molecule that weakens the intestinal barrier in celiac patients.

Gorelick: Changes Can't Wait
Daily Record - Sept. 30

Speaking to students in the School of Law, Jamie S. Gorelick, a member of the national Sept. 11 commission, said that party politics should be put to the side so that a bill creating the post of National Intelligence Director can be passed. Michael Greenberger, JD, director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security and a professor in the School, who himself worked on counterterrorism issues at the Department of Justice under President Clinton, said that he concurs with Gorelick's belief that the legislation has a good chance of passing before the election.

Key Part of Patriot Act Ruled Unconstitutional
Washington Post - Sept. 30

A federal judge in New York ruled on Sept. 29 that a key component of the USA Patriot Act is unconstitutional because it allows the FBI to demand information from Internet service providers without judicial oversight or public review. Michael Greenberger, JD, is quoted.
www.washingtonpost.com

Merck Pulls Vioxx, Cites Side Effects
Baltimore Sun - Oct. 1

Merck & Co. pulled its blockbuster painkiller Vioxx from the market on Sept. 30 after identifying an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, prompting patients to begin switching to alternatives. Raymond Flores, MD, an associate professor in the School of Medicine, is quoted.
www.baltimoresun.com

Ramsay: A Decade of Stability for Urban University
Daily Record - Oct. 1

A front-page story in today's edition profiles the successes and achievements of David J. Ramsay, DM, DPhil, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, during his first 10 years as leader of the institution.

Surgery Webcast Planned
Washington Post - Sept. 23

Mark Krasna, MD, a professor of surgery in the School of Medicine, will perform a thoracoscopic sympathectomy that will be aired via live webcast on Oct. 5, at 5 p.m. The procedure treats excessive sweating of the hands, underarms and feet and will be shown online at www.or-live.com/umm/1191. King Kwong, MD, an assistant professor in the School, will provide commentary. The operation will be broadcast from the University of Maryland Medical Center.
www.washingtonpost.com