In the News

December 2005

Americans Embrace Acupuncture's Healing Power
Forbes - Dec. 22

Modern science is proving the efficacy of acupuncture and its ability to treat a wide variety of conditions. "Before, more patients were rather skeptical. Now, not only patients want to see me, but also doctors say, 'Hey, I want to make an appointment.' There's been a big change," said Lixing Lao, MD, PhD, associate professor and acupuncturist in the Complementary Medicine Program at the School of Medicine.
www.forbes.com

Heartworm Found in Many Displaced Animals
The Sun Herald - Dec. 23

Veterinarians and animal organizations are concerned that as people and their dogs who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina are relocated to other parts of the country, the dogs will bring heartworm with them. But Laura Hungerford, DVM, MPH, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, said that relocated heartworm-positive Katrina rescues "shouldn't have a huge impact" because heartworm is already present in most of the country.
www.sunherald.com

UMB Researchers Discover Allergens in Alarming Places
NewsTarget.com - Dec. 23

Mary Beth Bollinger, DO, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, led a study that found that childrenýs nebulizers are often contaminated by allergens, jeopardizing the health of individuals with severe asthma.
www.newstarget.com

Happy Holidays Can be Hazardous, Too, Doctors Warn
Newsday - Dec. 21

From "drinking-and-decorating" accidents to back injuries caused by schlepping heavy gifts through malls, the winter holidays can be a hazardous time of year. "The number of serious injuries that we see as a result of falls from ladders increases at this time of year," said Andrew Pollak, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine.
www.newsday.com

Analyzing the Presidentýs Surveillance Program
"Dialogue" CCTV-9 (China) - Dec. 21

Robert Percival, JD, professor at the School of Law, appeared live for a half-hour in prime-time on Chinese National Television to discuss the legality of President Bush's surveillance program. Percival also talked about the importance of the rule of law, checks and balances on executive power, free speech, and civil liberties.

Both Sides File Motions in Disbarment Fight
The Daily Record - Dec. 22

A lawyer recently disbarred by the state's top court took official action to have a federal court in Baltimore overturn the sanction. But Robert Condlin, JD, a professor at the School of Law, guessed that the Maryland Court of Appeals will have to retract its opinion and then reissue it - leaving Patrick Muhammad disbarred in any event.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Court Bars Transfer of Padilla to Face New Terrorism Charges
The Washington Post - Dec. 22

A federal appeals court refused to authorize the transfer of "enemy combatant" Jose Padilla to face new criminal charges, issuing a strongly worded opinion rebuking the Bush administration and its handling of the high-profile terrorism case. "Obviously, the court feels very stung by being presented with what it thought to be a serious and heartfelt argument by the administration [to hold Padilla originally], only to learn it would turn on a dime," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.washingtonpost.com

Implant-Mastectomy Combination Leads to Complications
MyDNA.com - Dec. 21

A new study finds that breast implants in women who have undergone mastectomies often require more surgery because of complications. "Intuition would suggest that if a 're-operation' is needed for a patient who underwent a one-stage procedure, it should be discounted because it replaces the two-stage surgery with revisional surgery," said Navin Singh, MD, a clinical assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.mydna.com

New Life for Patriot Act Is No Bush Win
The Los Angeles Times - Dec. 22

In a major setback for the White House on a top domestic priority, the U.S. Senate passed a six-month extension of the Patriot Act, due to expire Dec. 31, even though President Bush had demanded that most of the law become permanent. "It is nonsensical," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security. "I think they are playing chicken with this thing."
www.latimes.com

President Bush's Domestic Spying Program
WUSA-TV Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - Dec. 21

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, talked about the legality of President Bush's domestic surveillance program.

Best Sun Protection Tips
The Green Guide - Dec. 21

A recent study of children age 11 to 18 by the American Cancer Society showed that less than one-third took precautions to protect themselves from the sun, a sobering fact when one considers that as much as 80 percent of our total lifetime sun exposure occurs within the first 18 years of life. Protection requires more than globbing sunscreens or sunblocks onto skin. Sunscreens don't prevent skin cancer; they can only reduce the risk," said Mark Chamberlain, PharmD, assistant professor at the School of Pharmacy.
www.thegreenguide.com

Blacks Hit Harder By Arterial Leg Disease
Forbes - Dec. 21

New government research suggests that African-Americans―women in particular―are especially susceptible to a clogging of the arteries in the legs, a potentially crippling condition. The new findings add to a growing body of evidence that black Americans are just as vulnerable to heart disease as whites, said Elijah Saunders, MD, a professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiology and Hypertension at the School of Medicine.
www.forbes.com

Caution: Blogging Can Get You Fired
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 21

Blogs, short for "Web logs," personal postings on the Internet that are usually personal and opinionated, are a new source of employer-employee trouble. There is a lot of existing laws about what employees can and can't say about their employers. What is different about blogging is that it makes those public statements worldwide in a matter of nanoseconds," said Teresa LaMaster, JD, assistant dean for technology affairs and chief information officer at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Pair of Repairs: A Double Dose Healing
WOWT, Ch 6 - Dec. 21

Heart bypass surgery and balloon angioplasty are very different procedures. But some doctors are combining the two to make heart therapy easier on their patients. Barry Reicher, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, and Robert Poston, MD, assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine, spoke about a recent operation in which the doctors combined the two procedures.
www.wowt.com

After Katrina, Agony Lingers
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 1

Warren Tewes, DDS, a clinical assistant professor at the Dental School and a member of the mortuary team that served in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, commented in this story about the slow pace of accounting for hurricane victims. "Terrorists couldn't have done a better job" of creating chaos, said Tewes.
www.baltimoresun.com

Breastfeeding May be Good for Mothers Too
Concord Monitor Online - Dec. 18

A Harvard University-run Nurses' Health Study, which tracked thousands of nurses during the past 29 years, hints at a link between breast-feeding and a lowered risk of diabetes. "One of the big things we talk to moms about is the increased postpartum weight loss," said Andrea Kwong, MD, instructor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the School of Medicine. "The weight loss itself might also decrease or delay the incidence of obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and chronic hypertension."
www.concordmonitor.com

Bush Defends Secret Wiretaps
The Globe and Mail - Dec. 20
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 20

President George W. Bush said that it was lawful for him to secretly order wiretapping of telephone calls to and from the United States, despite a 1978 law banning such intercepts without explicit authorization from a special court. ýHe has no legs to stand on,ý said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "Bush is waving a bloody flag to try and confuse people. They have all the legal weapons they need to fight terrorism; this is a totally needless program."
www.theglobeandmail.com
www.baltimoresun.com

Disbarment Challenged
The Daily Record - Dec. 20

An attorney disbarred last week by the Maryland Court of Appeals says the state court was powerless to act because, after oral arguments, he removed the case to federal court. However, his arguments are unlikely to support removing the case to federal court, according to Robert Condlin, JD, a professor at the School of Law. "He's probably wrong in the sense that there isn't any federal issue at stake as states have the historic authority to discipline lawyers," said Condlin.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Doctors' Claims Histories are Closely Guarded in Maryland
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 19

An investigation by The Sun has found that Marylanders are unlikely to find out from their state's Internet site, or any other public records, about a doctor's medical malpractice claims, and how much was paid to patients who alleged that they were injured. Just how tightly Maryland laws conceal a doctor's claims history became clear in 2004 as the General Assembly debated what to do about rising malpractice premiums. Lawmakers were "flying almost blind," Sen. Brian E. Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat, recalled in a recent symposium on malpractice legislation at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Lawyers Hope They Have Found a Winning Move
The Daily Record - Dec. 20

Lawyer Henry Abromson has applied for federal copyright protection of the ýPS:I-1,ý a four-step celebration performed by his friend and colleague Peter F. Stine ý a long distance runner. However, Robert Suggs, JD, a professor at the School of Law cautioned that "choreography is copyrightable; social dance steps are not." Because there is little precedent in the area of celebration dance copyrights, Suggs said it is unclear which category "PS: I-1" falls into.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Poor Families Aching for Dental Care
The Washington Post - Dec. 20

The shortage of dentists in Charles County is a dramatic example of the statewide and national shortage of dentists who treat patients covered by government-run Medicaid. Harry Goodman, DMD, MPH, an associate professor at the Dental School who oversees a program that sends pediatric dentists to low-income areas in the state, said that even with the improvements in Medicaid, the history of hassles makes dentists reluctant to get involved. "Dental offices are quite busy and doing well with privately paid patients," he said, "and dealing with the state program has been a nightmare."
www.washingtonpost.com

Will Congress Give Vaccine Makers a Shot in the Arm?
The National Law Journal - Dec. 16

A host of health, consumer, union, and other groups have joined together in an effort to force into the open what have been closed-door negotiations by Congressional Republicans regarding a plan to attach the liability waiver to a pending Department of Defense appropriations bill. "With such hostility toward plaintiff litigation, that's a very hard thing to sell, but I feel strongly the government needs to step in here," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.law.com

You Gotta Laugh
The Naples Daily News - Dec. 20

This story, about a "nurse humorist" who visits the elderly in Florida to explain how laughter relieves stress and improve a person's quality of life, cites a School of Medicine study, which found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh than people of the same age that had healthy hearts.
www.naplesnews.com

Congressional Investigations Into President Bush's Decision to Allow Domestic Eavesdropping
WTOP-AM, 6:50 a.m. - Dec. 19

Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed why Democrats and Republicans have called separately for congressional investigations into President Bushýs decision after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to allow domestic eavesdropping without court approval.

How to Release Ghosts of Christmases Past
The Washington Post - Dec. 18

Adult children arguing with elderly parents; couples miffed over struggling relationships; and loved ones nursing longtime hurts are the kinds of holiday-invoked personal issues that benefit from the gift of forgiveness, advises Fred DiBlasio, PhD, professor, School of Social Work. A national expert on forgiveness, he says deciding to forgive someone at this time of year ultimately can be a gift to yourself that frees you from being an angry, bitter person consumed by past hurts.
www.washingtonpost.com

Writing Offers Inmates Outlet
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 19

Although writing classes in women's prison are rare nationwide, programs like the one in a Jessup prison help women explore the roots of their behavior and can help them change. "When youýre dealing with female prisoners, the majority likely have histories of some kind of abuse or trauma, be it sexual abuse, physical abuse. And I believe that writing about it is very helpful for women," said Rebecca Bowman-Rivas, LCSW-C, a clinical instructor at the School of Law.
www.baltimoresun.com

Aims to Transfer Phase 1 Trials
Clinical Trials Advisor - Dec. 15

Baltimore-based SNBL Clinical Pharmacology Center, which opened its doors in October, aims to change the face of Phase 1 clinical trials at its new state-of-the-art facility at the UMB BioPark.

Congress Tackles Vaccine Liability
The National Law Journal - Dec. 12

Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the Republican-led effort to enact quickly unprecedented vaccine and liability protection for drug manufacturers and sellers with little or no concern for injured victims in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak.

Marshals to Patrol Land, Sea Transport
WBAL Ch. 11, 6 p.m. - Dec. 14

Teams of undercover air marshals and uniformed law enforcement officers will fan out to mass transit facilities across the country this week in a new test program to conduct surveillance. "We've got to remember that the last two major terrorist attacks-the Madrid railroad bombings, and the London subway bombings-have indicated that mass transit facilities are quite vulnerable, and really we've paid very little attention in the United States to our mass transit facilities," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Names In The News
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 16

Patricia G. Morton, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, a professor at the School of Nursingýs Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, has been appointed to assistant dean of the School's master's studies and the Doctor of the Nursing Practice program that is set to begin in fall 2006.

Mind Over Matter for Pain
ABC News - Dec. 12

Researchers in California have found that with the proper training, long-term chronic pain sufferers were able to focus on the key source of their painýrepresented on MRI scans by bright, reddish dotsýand then change the perceptions of how they felt, for better or worse. Brian Berman, MD, a professor of family medicine at the School of Medicine and director of the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine, said the MRI experiments are encouraging.
abcnews.go.com

A Push for Safer Chemical Sites
ABCnews.com - Dec. 13

Congress is poised to try to pass a law regulating security in and around chemical and petrochemical plants, which security experts say are among the most potentially deadly terrorist targets in the nation. "Legislation is very badly needed," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "This has been left to self-regulation, which is self-evidently constricted by the fact that the plants don't want to spend any more money than they have to."
abcnews.go.com

Major Pain Killer Trials to Start
Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Dec. 13

The Cleveland Clinic will direct a large-scale clinical trial to determine the cardiovascular safety of three painkillers, including the cox-2 inhibitor Celebrex, commonly used by arthritis sufferers. "I think the National Institutes of Health should take responsibility for conducting this type of clinical trial, where controversy and potential harm to the population are at stake," said Adil Shamoo, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine and co-founder of CIRCARE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of people used in research and medical treatment.
www.ajc.com

Man Gives Gift of Life to Brother-in-Law
Gettysburg Times - Dec. 13

The removal of a kidney from a Gettysburg man for donation to his brother-in-law marked an important milestone for the University of Maryland Medical Center. He was the 1,000th donor to have laparoscopic kidney removal at the center, the most of any hospital in the United States. Stephen Bartlett, MD, a professor of surgery in the School of Medicine, and Michael Phelan, MD, a visiting assistant professor at the School of Medicine, were quoted.
www.gettysburgtimes.com

Marshals to Patrol Land, Sea Transport
WUSA-TV Ch. 9 9 a.m. - Dec. 14

Teams of undercover air marshals and uniformed law enforcement officers will fan out across the country this week in a new test program to conduct surveillance. "We've got to remember that the last two major terrorist attacks-the Madrid railroad bombings and the London subway bombings-have indicated that mass transit facilities are quite vulnerable and really we've paid very little attention in the United States to our mass transit facilities," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Study Doubts Fiber's Ability to Fight Cancer
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 14

People who eat high-fiber diets run a lower risk of colorectal cancer than those who don't -- but it's probably not the fiber that's protecting them, scientists reported today in one of the largest studies of the subject. "I think this is one of those areas where something that was perhaps beneficial in other respects was oversold," said Jean-Pierre Raufman, MD, head of the of gastroenterology and hepatology division in the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

The Serious Side of Silly: Too Few Chuckles is no Laughing Matter
The Patriot Ledger (Boston, Mass.) - Dec. 14

The story, about the health benefits of laughing, cites a School of Medicine study in which people watched a funny movie for 15 minutes. Michael Miller, MD, associate professor in the School of Medicine and director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, found that this resulted in relaxation of the arteries and an increase of blood flow for as long as 45 minutes afterwards-an increase comparable to the effects of aerobic exercise.
www.patriotledger.com

A Push for Safer Chemical Sites
The Christian Science Monitor - Dec. 13

Congress is poised to try to pass a law regulating security in and around chemical and petrochemical plants, which security experts say are among the most potentially deadly terrorist targets in the nation. "Legislation is very badly needed," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "This has been left to self-regulation, which is self-evidently constricted by the fact that the plants don't want to spend any more money than they have to."
www.csmonitor.com

Heart Supplement Targets Blacks, Echoing Race-Based Drug
The Washington Post - Dec. 13

A dietary supplement recommended as an alternative treatment for cardiovascular disease is being marketed to an African-American audience via a full-page ad in the Dec. 12 issue of Jet magazine. "I think that the harm from this may not exist from the formulation [of the supplement], but the harm may exist from offering it as an alternative" to other cardiovascular treatments, said Mandeep Mehra, MD, a professor and chief of cardiology at the School of Medicine.
www.washingtonpost.com

How a Famed Hospital Invests in the Device It Uses
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Dec. 12

Since 2001, more than 1,200 Cleveland Clinic patients have had an operation-aimed at correcting a form of heart fluttering-called the AtriCure procedure. The clinic and its doctors have been leading advocates of the procedure, which is named after the maker of the equipment used in the surgery. Adil Shamoo, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine, said the clinic should not perform research related to companies in which it invests.
www.post-gazette.com

New Studies Target Old Problem of TMJ Syndrome
The Miami Herald - Dec. 13

For about 10 million Americans-many of them women of childbearing age-stress causes severe jaw pain, a condition called Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome. In a study funded by a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, experts at the Dental School are evaluating whether a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments for TMJ is better than either one alone. TMJ is a cyclical condition, said Edward Grace, DDS, MA, director of the Brotman Facial Pain Center and an associate professor in the Dental School.
www.miami.com

Acupuncture Reduces Pain of Arthritis
NewsTarget.com - Dec. 12

This story cites two School of Medicine studies, which found that acupuncture and meditation can help relieve the pain of arthritis.
www.newstarget.com

Blind Ambition? Civil Rights and U.S. Supreme Court Nominees
The Jurist - Dec. 9

In this op-ed, Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, writes that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito has some explaining to do regarding positions on civil rights issues he took as a young lawyer in the Reagan administration.
jurist.law.pitt.edu

Dentist Pulling Teeth for the Poor and Uninsured
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 12

In an age of adult braces, porcelain restorations and whitening treatments, Robert Johnson, a Washington County Health Department dentist, provides a more basic service. He pulls decayed teeth for the poor and uninsured. Modern dentistry emphasizes preserving a tooth at almost any cost, said Harry Goodman, DMD, MPH, associate professor at the Dental School. But Johnson's service is desperately needed, he added.
www.baltimoresun.com

Dogged by Migrating Diseases
Newsday - Dec. 12

Veterinarians say they are seeing an increase in heartworm disease in the Northeast where the disease is common, and possibly from transplanted rescue dogs from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. "While there may be more cases in the short term," says Laura Hungerford, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, "the real risk for any particular dog has not increased because how much heartworm you have is limited by your vector season."
www.newsday.com

Illness of the Intestines Receives Late Notice in the United States
The Wall Street Journal - Dec. 9

The story of celiac disease shows how blind spots can develop in the United States medical system. In Europe, a self-reinforcing cycle got under way in which patient groups spurred government-funded research, and the research led to publicity, more diagnoses, and more funding. In the U.S., that process worked in reverse. In 2003, researchers led by Alessio Fasano, MD, a professor in the School of Medicine and director of the department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, reported that one American in 133 has celiac disease.
online.wsj.com

Open and Shut Case
The Seattle Times - Dec. 11

For about 10 million Americans-many of them women of childbearing age-stress causes severe jaw pain, a condition called Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome. In a study funded by a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, experts at the Dental School are evaluating whether a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments for TMJ is better than either one alone. TMJ is a cyclical condition, said Edward Grace, DDS, MA, director of the Brotman Facial Pain Center and an associate professor in the Dental School.
seattletimes.nwsource.com

Political Turmoil in Justice Department's Civil Rights Division
News & Notes with Ed Gordon, National Public Radio - Dec. 9

Sherrilyn Ifill, JD, associate professor at the School of Law, discussed the turmoil within the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice amid allegations that Bush administration appointees sided with Republican politicians in key Voting Rights Act cases.
www.npr.org

Prostate Cancer Vaccine
WFRV-TV Ch 5 - Dec. 12

This story profiles a School of Medicine study of a new vaccine for prostate cancer patients who are at risk for recurrence. Richard B. Alexander, MD, a professor at the School of Medicine, said up to 20 percent of men have detectable levels of prostate specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate gland, after a prostatectomy.
wfrv.com

Seven Ways to Boost Your Childýs Immunity
Parents.com - Dec. 12

This story highlights steps parents can take to reduce the number of colds and flu to which their children succumb. In some ways, getting sick when youýre a kid is simply part of the job description, said Charles Shubin, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine. "We all enter this world with an inexperienced immune system," he explained.
www.parents.com

Shooting Illustrates Air Safety Conflict
The Washington Post - Dec. 9

The American Airlines passenger killed by air marshals at Miami International Airport on Dec. 7 suffered from bipolar disorder, according to investigators, raising new questions about how much training sky marshals receive in dealing with travelers with mental illnesses. Robert Phillips, MD, PhD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, said it is too difficult in this case to determine whether the marshals acted correctly because the facts are not clear.
www.washingtonpost.com

U.S. Won't Fight Ruling's Withdrawal
The Washington Post - Dec. 10

The U.S. Department of Justice said that it would not object to the withdrawal of an appellate court decision that affirmed the president's power to detain Jose Padilla as an enemy combatant, a decision the Bush administration hailed as vital in the fight against terrorism. "I think this is part of a strategy to make this case as difficult as possible to get to the U.S. Supreme Court," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.washingtonpost.com

Cardiologist Loses Post at Medical School
Cleveland.com - Nov. 9

Eric Topol, a nationally known cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, has lost his leadership role at the medical college he helped found. John Kastor, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, and the author of a recently published book about the clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland, says Topol seemed to get a great deal of satisfaction out of his leading role in creating the medical school.
www.cleveland.com

MedStar Health Adds to Its Board
Baltimore Business Journal - Nov. 8

Barbara Heller, EdD, RN, FAAN, professor of nursing and executive director of the University of Maryland Center for Health Workforce Development, is one of six new members on the board of MedStar, the parent organization for the Washington Hospital Center and Georgetown University Hospital.
www.washingtonpost.com

Pain Study
The Daily Record - Dec. 8

The Dental School will join three other institutions in a seven-year, multimillion-dollar clinical study on chronic pain of the jaw. Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders are a group of chronic pain conditions that involve the jaw and surrounding muscles. Joel Greenspan, PhD, professor at the Dental School, says the pain can be mild, or so severe that it limits chewing and the ability to open the mouth
www.mddailyrecord.com

Proposed Changes to a Federal Toxic Inventory Could Leave Industryýs Neighbors In Dark
Baltimore City Paper - Dec. 7

Every year most industrial facilities in the United States must tally and report their use of any of 650 chemicals on a list compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A proposed rule change would allow companies to report every two years instead of annually. "It is going to mean that a lot of toxic chemicals are going to be released, and we wonýt get that information," says Barbara Sattler, Dr PH, RN, director of the School of Nursing Environmental Health Education Center.
www.citypaper.com

Shooting Illustrates Air Safety Conflict
The Seattle Times - Dec. 9
Los Angeles Times - Dec. 9

The shooting incident at Miami International Airport produced the first life-or-death test of the federal air marshal system since the Sept. 11 hijackings, and federal officials said it appeared the marshals followed established procedures and did exactly what they were supposed to do in bringing down a man who said he had a bomb. "It is a very unfortunate situation, but I cannot fault the air marshals involved or the protocols they are using," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
seattletimes.nwsource.com

Allergens May Contaminate Childrenýs Nebulizers
Reuters - Dec. 7

Indoor allergens can contaminate asthmatic children's nebulizer equipment, with potentially serious consequences for sensitive individuals. Mary E. Bollinger, DO, associate professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine, reported two cases of life-threatening asthma episodes in patients who used nebulizers contaminated with cockroach allergen.
today.reuters.co.uk

German Held in Afghan Jail Files Lawsuit
The New York Times - Dec. 7

A German citizen who says he was abducted in 2003, beaten and taken to Afghanistan by American agents in what was apparently a case of mistaken identity, filed a lawsuit in federal court against George J. Tenet, the former CIA director, and three companies suspected of being involved in secret CIA flights. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said Khaled el-Masri's lawyers faced "a steep uphill climb" in making their case in the Eastern District of Virginia.
www.nytimes.com

Most Large Firms to Retain Retiree Drug Coverage Next Year
WIFE-TV Ch 15 - Dec. 7
Health Day.com - Dec. 7

A new survey finds the majority of large U.S. companies will accept government subsidies to continue providing drug coverage to their retirees in 2006, and most are likely to do so in 2007. "Basically, employers were given a free pass and they've taken it. With the subsidy, they can afford to hold off making a decision about whether to continue providing drug benefits," he said. "And by not making a decision, they still get a windfall," said Bruce Stuart, PhD, director of the Peter Lamy Center and professor in the School of Pharmacy.
www.14wfie.com
www.healthday.com

Planmeca Chosen to Build Digital Clinical Environment for Dental School
learningbusiness.fi - Dec. 8

The Finnish dental equipment manufacturer Planmeca Oy has signed a major equipment delivery agreement to supply the Dental School with 324 dental units including integrated software and digital imaging equipment for educational and clinical use. This agreement is the largest delivery agreement in the history of Planmeca and worth nearly $10 million.
www.learningbusiness.fi

Taking a Shot for Science
The Washington Post - Dec. 8

Researchers at the Center for Vaccine Development, one of three avian flu study sites nationwide, are moving into the second stage of clinical trials of an avian flu vaccine. "This is very important work," said James Campbell, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics and principal investigator for the study at the School of Medicine.
www.washingtonpost.com

War on Terror
WUSA-TV Ch. 9 9 a.m. - Dec. 7

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the acquittal of a former professor accused of supporting a Palestinian terrorist group and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to Germany where she explained the Bush administrationýs views on secret prisons and the treatment of terrorist suspects.

"Torture" Takes On New Meaning in Post-9/11 U.S.
Reuters - Dec. 6 (and 7 more newspapers)

In October, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a proposal by Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who was tortured as a prisoner during the Vietnam War, for a ban on "cruel, inhumane, and degrading" treatment of detainees. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said McCain was trying to bring the United States into compliance with international norms, while President Bush wanted to leave the door open for the CIA to act beyond those norms without prosecution.
www.alertnet.org

Boston Doctor Links Lower Diabetes Risk to Nursing
Chicago Tribune - Dec. 7

A Harvard University-run Nurses' Health Study, which tracked thousands of nurses during the past 29 years, hints at a link between breast-feeding and a lowered risk of diabetes. "One of the big things we talk to moms about is the increased postpartum weight loss," said Andrea Kwong, MD, instructor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the School of Medicine. "The weight loss itself might also decrease or delay the incidence of obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and chronic hypertension."
www.chicagotribune.com

Grit, Clench, Grind: TMJ Takes Its Toll
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Dec. 7

For about 10 million Americans stress causes severe jaw pain, a condition called Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ). In a study funded by a $2.4 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, experts at the Dental School are evaluating whether a combination of pharmacological and psychological treatments for TMJ is better than either one alone. TMJ is a cyclical condition, said Edward Grace, DDS, MA, director of the Brotman Facial Pain Center and an associate professor in the Dental School.

Jury Refuses to Convict Ex-Professor in U.S. Terror Case
The Wall Street Journal - Dec. 7

The government fell short in a high-profile prosecution that hinged on evidence admitted under the USA Patriot Act as a federal jury in Florida refused to convict a former professor accused of supporting a Palestinian terrorist group. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said the verdict shows that "no matter the extent of the broad powers the government has been given under the Patriot Act, jurors are still going to apply common sense to the facts that are presented to them."
online.wsj.com

Rumsfeld versus FAIR
WMAR-TV Ch. 2, 5 & 6 p.m.- Dec. 6

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday in Rumsfeld v. FAIR, which will decide whether the federal government can withhold funding from universities that do not allow military recruiters on campus. "It's clearly our duty, and we take it very seriously to make sure that every job opportunity that comes through these doors is available to every law student regardless of race, gender, ethnic background, disability, [or] sexual orientation," said Jose Bahamonde-Gonzalez, JD, associate dean for administrative affairs at the School of Law.

Terror Response Report
WJZ-TV Ch. 13, 6 p.m.ý Dec. 6

Hospitals are not prepared to handle the patients who would arrive after a disaster or a pandemic and the federal government has not taken charge of such preparation, according to a report released by the Trust for America's Health. On 10 key measures of preparedness, most states received a five or less. Maryland met four. "The state, the city, and the counties are working very, very hard and without the resources they deserve to meet this challenge," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

War on Terror
The Marc Steiner Show WYPR 12 p.m. - Dec. 6

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the ongoing efforts in the United Statesý war on terror.

9/11 Readiness Report
WTTG Fox 5 News - Dec. 5

The commission that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks has issued a harsh report card on the federal governmentýs efforts to shore up defenses and protect the nation against future terrorist strikes. "I am fearful that if a terrorist attack were to happen today, we would be in the same shape as we were on Sept. 11, 2001," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Breast-feeding Could Protect Moms Against Diabetes
Miami Herald - Dec. 6

A Harvard University-run Nurse Health Study, which tracked thousands of nurses during the past 29 years, hints at a link between breast-feeding and a lowered risk of diabetes. "One of the big things we talk to moms about is the increased postpartum weight loss," said Andrea Kwong, MD, instructor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the School of Medicine. "The weight loss itself might also decrease or delay the incidence of obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes and chronic hypertension."
www.miami.com

Colleges Lose Nearly $10 Million as Two Programs Are Killed by Federal Spending Bill
Chronicle for Higher Education - Dec. 5

Fifty-one colleges will lose a total of $9.5 million from two community-outreach programs that were eliminated from the 2006 budget for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Universities use the grants to offer financial aid to minority and economically disadvantaged students, who participate in community development and community planning programs as part of their work-study. "Getting a college into the community is a cost-effective way to help," said Dick Cook, MSW, an instructor at the School of Social Work.
chronicle.com

From Web Hoaxer to Helper
The Washington Post - Dec. 6

Alek Komarnitsky is turning his notoriety over a prank involving an Internet display of Christmas lights into an opportunity this year to raise awareness of celiac disease. He hooked up three Web cameras that feature live shots of his 26,000 Christmas lights. He suggests that people make contributions to the Center for Celiac Research at the School of Medicine. Alessio Fasano, MD, professor of pediatrics, medicine, and physiology at the School of Medicine and medical director of the Center for Celiac Research and Pam King, the center's director of operations, were quoted.
www.washingtonpost.com

Medicare Change Clouds Drug Industry
The News Journal - Dec. 6

As the launch of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, known as Part D, nears, the question for drug companies is whether people will remain loyal to their current medication once they join a system that arms them with more information about drug prices and places a premium on managing costs. The insurance companies that administer the plans will be a big part of the equation, said Frank Palumbo, JD, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the Schoolýs Center on Drugs and Public Policy.
www.delawareonline.com

Permanent Teeth on Fast Forward
The News Journal - Dec. 6

In the past, permanent implants required a long process and repeated visits to the doctor. It could take up to nine months to get a working set of teeth. But recent advances in implant technology now make it possible to go home with a set of working teeth after just one surgery. Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, an associate professor, in the Dental School, commented on the procedure.
www.delawareonline.com

Physical Health From Great Expectations
Newsday.com ý Dec. 6

In a new spin on the so-called placebo effect, research shows that the power of expectation can influence the way medication affects peopleýs health, both physically and psychologically. "Our brain really is on drugs when we get a placebo," said Christian S. Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, dean of the Dental School. What is more remarkable is that some especially strong placebo responders suggest "many brains can actually stimulate that (pain-relief) system more."
www.newsday.com

The Lean Plate Club
The Oregonian - Dec. 6

This story about the genetic nature of appetite cites a School of Medicine study of Old Order Amish families. In the study, researchers have pinpointed two chromosomal regions that are linked to restrained eating and to overeating in adults.
www.oregonlive.com

Dealing With Holiday Party Anxiety
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 4

Parties at any time of year can be intimidating. But in this season of forced merriment and heightened expectations, the prospect of an endless string of fetes, office gatherings, cookie exchanges, and open houses can be particularly excruciating. "We constantly are looking for connection as well as validation," says Geoffrey Greif, DSW, associate dean of the School of Social Work.
www.baltimoresun.com

HIV/AIDS Vaccine Still Years Away
China Daily - Dec. 5
People's Daily Online - Dec. 5

At an international health symposium in Beijing, China, Robert Gallo, MD, director of the University of Maryland Institute of Human Virology and a professor at the School of Medicine, called on institutes of human virology around the world to take on the responsibility of developing possible vaccines against HIV.
www.chinadaily.com.cn

Life's Loud Noises Leave a Generation Struggling to Hear
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 4

About 75 million Americans born during the postwar baby boom now suffer from some sort of hearing loss, mostly due to environmental factors such as loud concerts. "It's perceived as, 'I can hear you, but I can't understand the words,'" says David Eisenman, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com

Names in the News
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 2

Herbert Buchanan Jr. has been named senior vice president and chief operating officer of the University of Maryland Medical Center. He comes from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he served as vice president for operations since 2001. Carol Esche, ND, RN, MA, CAN, and Gail Lemaire, PhD, APRN, BC, assistant professors at the School of Nursing, have been appointed co-directors of the school's clinical nurse leader master's program. The program was launched as part of an initiative by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

RX for an Industry
The Miami Herald - Dec. 5

The nation's pharmacist shortage is resulting in fierce recruitment of pharmacy students, with many of them starting their careers earning between $80,000 and $100,000. "Every hour of every day, dozens if not hundreds of prescriptions are coming across the counter. They [pharmacists] are trying to do that while at the same time counseling patients, calling physicians, helping diabetic patients manage eight or 10 medicines, teaching parents how to help their child use [a] new asthma inhaler," said David Knapp, PhD, dean of the School of Pharmacy.
www.miami.com

AIDS Expert Reports Progress Toward HIV Vaccine
Daily News and Analysis India - Dec. 1

Robert Gallo, MD, director of the University of Maryland Institute for Human Virology and a professor at the School of Medicine, said he has made progress toward producing an AIDS vaccine and hopes to launch a clinical trial in about a year.
dnaindia.com

Air-Cargo Screening 'a Disaster Waiting to Happen,' Critics Say
Bloomberg News - Nov. 30

Only 900 Transportation Security Administration workers oversee private-industry security workers who screen a fraction of the 23 billion pounds of goods transported within the U.S. on passenger and cargo planes. "The idea that there is no security in cargo holds while thereýs the charade of carefully screening airline passengers is a slap in the face of the airline passenger," said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.
www.bloomberg.com

An Owner's Manual for Maryland Rights
The Daily Record - Dec. 2

Dan Friedman, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law, has written The Maryland State Constitution: A Reference Guide, a modern-day, section-by-section analysis of the governing document much amended in the 90 years since its last review. "People don't know very much about the Maryland Constitution, and [I thought] it would be good if they knew more," said Friedman.
www.mddailyrecord.com

Ending Mental Illness Stigma
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 2

With the help of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, author Bebe Moore Campbell is trying to increase awareness of mental illness among African-Americans. "Our culture says, 'You have to go on no matter what'―if youýre limping, if you're physically ill, if you're psychologically ill. As a consequence, getting help for yourself competes with meeting your other obligations," said Curtis Adams Jr., MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the School of Medicine. "And African-Americans often think mental illness implies losing control," he said.
www.baltimoresun.com

Uplifting Surgery For the Shoulder
The Baltimore Sun - Dec. 2

During a three-hour procedure last year, Anand Murthi, MD, assistant professor of orthopedics at the School of Medicine, reconstructed the ball-and-socket joint connecting the top of an 87-year-old patient's arm bone, the humerus, to her shoulder, using an implant recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The prosthesis allows surgeons to reverse the way the joint normally fits together.
www.baltimoresun.com

AIDS Expert Reports Progress Toward HIV Vaccine
Reuters - Nov. 30

Robert Gallo, MD, director of the University of Maryland Institute for Human Virology and a professor at the School of Medicine, said he has made progress toward producing an AIDS vaccine and hopes to launch a clinical trial in about a year.
www.alertnet.org

Appeals Court Delays Transfer of Padilla to Justice Department Custody
The Associated Press - Nov. 30
The Washington Post - Nov. 30

The 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said it wants more information from the government and lawyers for Jose Padilla, who is charged with being part of a North American terror support network that sent recruits and money abroad in the late 1990s, before they order his transfer from a military brig. Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said he views the order as an attempt by the appellate judges to thwart the U.S. Supreme Court's consideration of the case.
www.washingtonpost.com

Bitter Pill for Drug Giants as End of Patent Nears
The Standard, Hong Kong - Dec. 1

Frank Palumbo, JD, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy and director of the School's Center on Drugs and Public Policy, discussed an analysis of how impending patent expirations on blockbuster drugs will affect the pharmaceutical companies that created them. "The industry itself is under a lot of pressure; there will be some changes. I still think the salvation of a large company is with their blockbuster drugs, and they will continue to look for those. Big pharma cannot sustain itself without being able to sell high-profit drugs at high volume," he said.
www.thestandard.com.hk

Names in the News
The Baltimore Sun - Nov. 25

Timothy Babineau, MD, MBA, FACS, has been named chief medical officer and senior vice president of the University of Maryland Medical Center. He will also join the faculty of the School of Medicine.
www.baltimoresun.com