In the News

December 2006

Scientists Discover Means of Stopping Prion Transmission in Blood
BBC News - Dec. 22

Scientists have found a way to remove disease-causing proteins known as prions from infected animal blood, which they hope may fight the human form of mad cow disease. Robert Rohwer, PhD, associate professor at the School of Medicine, who was involved in the study, said: "For these disease agents, removal may be our best or only option."
news.bbc.co.uk

Stem Cell Technique Could Help Kids Avoid Root Canal
HealthDay News - Dec. 21

The promise of stem cells may someday help kids say goodbye to the dreaded root canal, scientists report. George Huang, DDS, MSD, DSc, associate professor with the Dental School, said, "By leaving the tissue and just removing the infection, we observed in these cases that, not only are the gums healed and the children's teeth free from infection and abscesses but, most importantly, there is a stem-cell aided completion of the root formation and tooth maturation over time." Nerve/pulp tissue is vital to the healthy development of teeth in children under the age of 16.
www.forbes.com

A Third of ER Visits Aren't Emergencies
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 21

Emergency room use continues to accelerate in Maryland, and more than a third of the visits are for conditions that could be treated elsewhere, the Maryland Health Care Commission reported yesterday. Often, said Andrew Pollak, MD, a commission member and associate professor at the School of Medicine, patients are kept in emergency departments because beds are not available elsewhere in the hospital.
www.baltimoresun.com

New Warnings Issued for Painkillers
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 21

New warnings about the dangers associated with over-the-counter drugs used to treat pain, fever, headaches, and muscle aches would be required under new rules proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. ýThe increase in polypharmacyýtaking more than one medicationýas well as taking these medications chronically,ý increases the risk of complications, said Sheila Weiss, PhD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy. "People are taking chronic medication for pain, and then they get a cold and take a medication that has the same painkiller in it."
www.examiner.com

Panel Pushes Housing Solutions to End Homelessness
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 21

There are three simple solutions to solving homelessness in Baltimore, according to the experts who discussed the severity of homelessness in the city and ways the problem could be eradicated at a School of Social Work forum Wednesday. ýHousing, housing, and housing [are the three solutions],ý said Michael Stoops, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. The forum was entitled, "Poor, Brutish, and Short: A Discussion of Homelessness, Health, and Life and Death on the Street."
www.examiner.com

Pets May Play Part in Health
The Times-Picayune (New Orleans) - Dec. 21

Recent studies have revealed how pets stimulate positive physiological changes in humans. One study showed that a brief pet visit increased levels of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, while levels of cortisol, a stress and arousal hormone, dropped. "A chronic state of arousal isn't healthy," said Erika Friedmann, PhD, professor at the School of Nursing. "It causes hypertension, and it has been implicated in diabetes, asthma, and various gastrointestinal disorders. Part of the arousal response is to turn off the immune system, so you are breaking down instead of healing yourself."
www.nola.com

West River Ruling Could Send Critical Message
The (Maryland) Gazette - Dec. 18

The Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals has struck a blow for environmental enforcement, denying a retroactive variance for a West River landowner who built in a wetlands Critical Area without proper permits. A recent study by the School of Law's Environmental Law Clinic showed that violators are often given retroactive variances or permits for work that was in violation of environmental law.
www.hometownannapolis.com

Air Force Prepares for Pandemic Flu
Air Force Times - Dec. 12

Responding to warnings that an influenza pandemic, coupled with a shortage of vaccine, could cause almost one-third of Americans to fall ill, the U.S. Air Force is developing a plan to provide military assets for a civilian-led response. ýThe only institution that understandsýand lives with on a daily basisýan incident command structure is the active military,ý said Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security. "If nothing else, [the military] can provide an organization and operational structure to respond to a crisis."

Anthrax Vaccine and Death Penalty in Maryland
WUSA-TV, Ch. 9, 9 a.m. - Dec. 20

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the Bush administrationýs cancellation of a contract with VaxGen, Inc., to create an anthrax vaccine. He also discussed the decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals to temporarily stop using the death penalty in Maryland.

Appeals Board Draws Critics
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 20

Responding to concerns about unchecked development along the Chesapeake Bay watershed, more than a dozen Anne Arundel County residents appeared before the County Council on Monday night to interview for spots on the zoning board. Environmental activists circulated a flier at the meeting referring to a recent study by the School of Law's Environmental Law Clinic that found the county Board of Appeals approved 77 percent of all variances requested in 2005 for environmentally critical areas.
www.baltimoresun.com

Bioterrorism and Disease Response
"Maryland Morning With Sheilah Kast," WYPR-FM, 9 a.m. - Dec. 20
"Capital Sunday," WJLA-TV, Ch. 7, 10:30 a.m. - Dec. 17

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, talked about a new report that ranks Washington, D.C., and Maryland among the worst prepared in the nation for health emergencies and Congressý passage of the Pandemic Flu and Health Preparedness Act.

Death Penalty Decision
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. - Dec. 19 and 5 a.m. and 6 a.m - Dec. 20

The Maryland Court of Appeals has rejected three appeals by death row inmate Vernon Evans, but found merit in Evansý challenge to the way lethal injection procedures were adopted. "What this means is that the majority of his claims have now been rejected by the state court, and it means for Mr. Evans that he is one step closer [to execution]," said Andrew Levy, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law.
www.thewbalchannel.com

Household Cleaner Poses Poisoning Danger
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. - Dec. 14 and 5:50 a.m. - Dec. 15

Suzanne Doyon, MD, medical director of the Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy, warns that some people are mistaking bottles of a household cleaner called Fabuloso for a flavored sports drink. The cleaner causes a sore throat, irritation in the esophagus, and some vomiting. While the major fear is that children will not read the small warnings on the bottles, Doyon said accidental ingestion by adults also needs to be prevented because most calls to poison centers are from adults.

Maryland Pharmacy Board Seeks to Beef Up Inspections
The Daily Record - Dec. 20

After nearly two-thirds of the stateýs pharmacies went without required annual inspections last year, the Maryland Board of Pharmacy is hoping to change what some argue is a broken regulatory system. The biggest issue is inadequate resources, said Raymond Love, PharmD, professor at the School of Pharmacy. "State government pays pharmacists very poorly," said Love.

Mummy May Be Part of UM Collection
Concord Monitor - Dec. 20

Michigan authorities confiscated the mummified cadaver of a child illegally placed for sale on eBay. Ronald Wade, director of the anatomical services division at the School of Medicine, is convinced the body is part of an obscure but historic set of medical mummies known as the Burns collection. "It is very valuable and very historic," said Larry Pitrof, executive director of the Medical Alumni Association.
www.concordmonitor.com

New Tool in Battle Against Pelvic Pain
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 20

Richard Marvel, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine, helped develop an instrument to diagnose several sources of pelvic pain. About 15 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 50 suffer chronic pelvic pain. "Chronic pain tends to be a combination of factors that existed over a period of time that together add up to cause their pain," said Marvel.
www.examiner.com

School of Medicine Tests Cell-Cultured Bird Flu Vaccine
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 20

A bird flu vaccine cultured in laboratory-grown cells, not chicken eggs like traditional vaccines, is being tested at the School of Medicine. This way as much vaccine as is needed could be made, said James Campbell, MD, the lead investigator on the study.

Dentist Finds Right Time to Switch Careers
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 19

For Alva Smith, it was never too late to follow her dream. At the age of 32, Smith enrolled at the Dental School. "It was a little awkward being older and [already] a professional. I've always wanted my own business," said Smith, whose Burwood Plaza Dental Associates in Glen Burnie has been open for two months.
www.examiner.com

Not Feeling Each Other's Pain
The Washington Post - Dec. 19

Margaret McCarthy, PhD, a professor in the Department of Physiology at the School of Medicine, speculates that hormones, in particular estrogen, may be tied to more severe and frequent pain for women. Joel Greenspan, PhD, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Dental School and a chair of the pain conference, said that without guidelines to help standardize future research, it will be harder to compare findings or apply them in clinical practice.
www.washingtonpost.com

Organ Donor to Ride in Tournament of Roses Parade
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 19

Norman Biondi of Ellicott City is going to the Rose Bowl because of something he gave up. Three years ago, he gave his daughter, Emily Biondi, a kidney. He will ride a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on New Yearýs Day due to an essay Emily wrote about his gift. The University of Maryland Medical Center performs about 400 transplants each year, and last year completed its 1,000th operation. Transplant surgeon Matthew Cooper, MD, associate professor of transplant surgery at the School of Medicine, said.
www.examiner.com

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care
"John McLaughlin's One on One," WRC-TV, 12:30 p.m. - Dec. 19

Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, former dean of the School of Medicine, talked about racial and ethnic disparities in the health care of minority populations. "For example, if you look at the black population, [you'll find a] much lower life expectancy, many more years of potential life lost by the age of 65, higher incidents of disease, higher mortality," he said.

School of Medicine Tests Cell-Cultured Bird Flu Vaccine
The Associated Press - Dec. 18 (published on nine Web sites)

A bird flu vaccine cultured in laboratory-grown cells, not chicken eggs like traditional vaccines, is being tested at the School of Medicine. This way, as much vaccine as is needed could be made, said James Campbell, MD, the lead investigator on the study.

Bioterrorism and Disease Response
"The Federal Drive," WFED-AM, 8 a.m. - Dec. 15

During this live interview, Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, talked about Congress' passage of the Pandemic Flu and Health Preparedness Act, which is awaiting the President's signature.
www.federalnewsradio.com

Chili Extract Makes Diabetes Go Away
The Vancouver Sun - Dec. 15
The National Post - Dec. 15
The (Montreal) Gazette - Dec. 15

Scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the bodyýs nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease affecting millions of Canadians. The "paradigm changing" study opens "a novel, exciting door to address one of the diseases with large societal impact," said Christian Stohler, DMD, DrMedDent, a leading pain specialist and dean of the Dental School, who has reviewed the work.
www.canada.com
www.canada.com
www.canada.com

Claims About Shore Student Enrollment Into Professional Programs Investigated
The Daily Times - Dec. 16

University System of Maryland Chancellor William Kirwan has asked the Schools of Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy to provide data about the students they admit. During Kirwanýs listening tour at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in October, Del. Page Elmore (38A-Somerset), discussed concerns with the chancellor that undergraduates from the Lower Shore werenýt being accepted into the law, medical, and pharmacy graduate programs in fair proportion.

Family Gets 3-Week Reprieve in City Ground Rent Dispute
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 16

A Baltimore family that faced loss of its home yesterday over a ground rent lawsuit was allowed to stay when a City Council member brokered a last-minute reprieve. Court records show a company bought the ground rent in July 2004 and in November of the same year filed suit against Joseph and Mary Onheiser. Andrew Levy, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law, questioned how lawsuits could be successfully pursued against dead people. "You can't sue a dead man," said Levy. "If a default judgment is entered against a dead person, it should have no legal effect."
www.baltimoresun.com

Get Your Teeth Whiter Than White
The Financial Express (India) - Dec. 18

A set of beautiful white teeth has been an almost universal symbol of health, youth, and beauty since ancient times. The Greeks and Romans used a dentifrice formula with uric acid to keep their smiles bright, says Scott Swank, DDS, curator of the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry. "But the formula was extremely caustic so their teeth were white for a while but then became ravaged by decay."
www.financialexpress.com

Maryland Pharmacy Board Seeks to Beef Up Inspections
Capital News Service - Dec. 15

After nearly two-thirds of the state's pharmacies went without required annual inspections last year, the Maryland Board of Pharmacy is hoping to change what some argue is a broken regulatory system. The biggest issue is inadequate resources, said Raymond Love, PharmD, professor at the School of Pharmacy. "State government pays pharmacists very poorly," said Love.
somd.com

Maryland Pharmacy Inspections Lag
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 18
Capital News Service - Dec. 15 (published in two newspapers)

Less than half of Maryland's pharmacies were inspected in the past two years, and just a third in the past year. Fadia Shaya, PhD, MPH, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy and associate director of the Center on Drugs and Public Policy, said, "The first concern when you're taking a drug is that it works." Expired antibiotics, for example, might have limited or partial therapeutic effects and could allow a condition to worsen, said Shaya.
somd.com

Pharmacy's New Face: Asian, African-and Female
The Gazette - Dec. 15

Pharmacy has also become "a very popular profession for women," said Gary Smith, PharmD, professor at the School of Pharmacy. Female students have maintained a 60 percent or higher majority at the pharmacy school for at least 20 years. "It was very eye-opening to see all the diversity," said Chanel Agness, PharmD, assistant professor and student adviser. First-year student Shirley Lee, a first-generation American of Chinese descent, said she is amazed by the possibilities open to her. Cynthia Boyle, PharmD, assistant professor, says language is rarely a problem among accepted students.
www.gazette.net

Preparing for Possibility of Flu Pandemic
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 16
The Associated Press - Dec. 16

Local officials say they want people to prepare for the possibility of a pandemic-flu, however remote. And they have made it clear they want to have their plans-and stockpiles-in place before it's too late. "If we can prevent people from getting ill and having some of the complications, then we can potentially avert that or make the pandemic no worse than a seasonal flu type of illness," said James Campbell, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine who is leading an avian flu vaccine trial for the National Institutes of Health.
www.examiner.com

Study Shows Reduction in Angioplasty
Quad-City Times - Dec. 18

Local cardiologists say a recent study's findings will change how they treat many stable heart attack patients who do not seek treatment until three or more days after an attack. Doctors say theyýll likely perform fewer angioplasties to unblock the arteries of such people. The study "completely dispels the myth that no matter what time you open [a blocked artery], it's better to open it," said Mandeep Mehra, MD, professor at the School of Medicine.
www.qctimes.net

Texas Foster Children Getting Poor Medical Care
Dallas Morning News - Dec. 15

In a review of Medicaid claims for foster children, Julie Zito, PhD, associate professor at the School of Pharmacy, and another researcher said 37 percent of Texas foster children received one or more prescriptions for mental health drugs in 2004. A few years earlier only about a quarter of the foster children in an unidentified mid-Atlantic state were given such drugs. "In this two-state comparison, Texas foster care youths were 2.9 times more likely to be prescribed an antipsychotic drug," the researchers said.
www.dallasnews.com

Train Security
WTOP-FM, 4:50 p.m. - Dec. 15

Michael Greenberger, JD, professor at the School of Law and director of the Center for Health and Homeland Security, discussed the Department of Homeland Security's proposed regulations tightening security on passenger and freight trains.

Did City Miss Golden Opportunity With Superblock?
Baltimore Business Journal - Dec. 15

One of the chief goals of the Superblock project was to create a natural connection between the city's central business district and the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus and the University of Maryland Medical Center. Both have launched new building projects over the years, including new law and dental school buildings, and both have significant projects in the works.

MacKerell is Maryland Chemist of the Year
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 15

Alexander MacKerell Jr, PhD, professor at the School of Pharmacy, has been named the 2006 Maryland Chemist of the Year by the American Chemical Societyýs Maryland Section. MacKerell, who is also director of the school's Computer-Aided Drug Design Center, was honored for pioneering research on the aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme system, his biophysical studies, developing methodology for studying force fields, and application of computational methods to drug discovery.
www.baltimoresun.com

Third Officer Taken to Shock Trauma
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 15
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 15
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11 - Dec. 14 and 15
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13 - Dec. 14 and 15
WMAR-TV, Ch. 2 - Dec. 14 and 15
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45 - Dec. 14 and 15

Baltimore County police officer David Garner is in critical but stable condition, after being shot Thursday while investigating a robbery in Perry Hall. Garner is the third local officer shot in the line of duty in nine days, though all three are still alive with good prospects for recovery. "Doctors are superstitious people. They say bad news comes in threes, so we're hoping this is the end," said Thomas Scalea, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and head of surgery at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center.
www.examiner.com
www.baltimoresun.com
www.thewbalchannel.com
wjz.com
www.abc2news.com

UMB Plots $300M Building
Baltimore Business Journal - Dec. 15

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is planning a new medical research building on the city's west side. "We must have another facility so as to accommodate the robust research enterprise that we currently have," said E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, dean of the School of Medicine. T. Sue Gladhill, MSW, vice president for external affairs, said it could be difficult to get donors to pay for a substantial percentage of the building's cost. The university would like to start construction in 2009 or 2010, said James Hill, MPA, vice president for administration and finance.

Bioscience Employees on the Rise
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 13

More than 8,700 workers and 142 companies have joined Maryland's bioscience community since 1998, according to a new report-signs the local biotechnology industry is reaching a "critical mass," industry leaders said. Baltimoreýs share of companies, said Aris Melissaratos, secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, is likely to grow with the opening of the city's East Side and West Side biotech parks, affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, respectively.

Dentistry Museum Welcomes Narwhal Whale Tooth Exhibit
The (Baltimore) Examiner-Dec. 14

A life-size replica of a narwhal, 13 to 15 feet in length with a five-foot tusk that grows through the upper jaw, is on display at the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry. "There's a lot of research as to what that tusk is about," says Rosemary Fetter, MA, executive director of the museum.

Flu Vaccines for Youths Can Protect Families
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 14
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 14
The Washington Post - Dec. 14
Health Day News - Dec. 14 (published in two newspapers and five Web sites)
ABCNews.com - Dec. 14
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 5 and 6 p.m. - Dec. 13

According to a new study led by the School of Medicine and published in this weekýs New England Journal of Medicine, flu vaccines for elementary school children can help reduce flu for the whole family. "We only looked at one week of the flu season, and yet we saw a big difference. To me, that's phenomenal," said James King, MD, a professor at the School and the principal investigator. "We think this is a good model to look at avian flu or a pandemic flu."
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com
www.washingtonpost.com
abcnews.go.com

Pharmacists Bring Cultures Together
Arbutus Times - Dec. 13

Pharmacy has become "a very popular profession for women," said Gary Smith, PharmD, professor at the School of Pharmacy. Female students have maintained a 60 percent or higher majority at the pharmacy school for at least 20 years. "It was very eye-opening to see all the diversity," said Chanel Agness, PharmD, assistant professor and student adviser. First-year student Shirley Lee, a first-generation American of Chinese descent, said she is amazed by the possibilities open to her.
news.mywebpal.com

Poised to Make a Difference
The American Nurse - Nov/Dec 2006

A recent federal government survey found that men make up only 5.7 percent of the estimated 2.9 million nurses living and working in the U.S. Ewing Neelley, III, a BSN student at the School of Nursing, explained why he chose the nursing profession while working as a paramedic. "When I saw the vast realm of what nurses do and how they enjoy working with patientsýwhich I doýit really turned me on to nursing. Given the current shortage of nurses, I want to be among those guaranteeing the future of nursing," he said.

Shock Trauma Hero Devoted to Police
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 14

Thomas Scalea, MD, professor at the School of Medicine and head of surgery at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, has personally committed to serve every officer or first responder who falls in the line of duty, and he has saved some lives more than once. "They're in a job where they're more likely than the average person to get hurt, and they're more likely to get really hurt," Scalea said.

Surgical Center a Technological Cut Above the Rest
Arbutus Times - Dec. 13

The movie magic that allowed Gollum to lurch across the screen in the "Lord of the Rings" films or capture the great ape's naturalistic movements in the remake of "King Kong" is now being used in operating room research and training. ýYou can have your golf swing measured, you can have your (baseball) pitch measured ý but no one has even had surgical movements measured before,ý said Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine. "Students or residents can practice their surgical skills without putting any patients at risk," said Stephen Bartlett, MD, professor at the School.
news.mywebpal.com

Bioscience Employees on the Rise
The Daily Record - Dec. 13

More than 8,700 workers and 142 companies have joined Marylandýs bioscience community since 1998, according to a new reportýsigns the local biotechnology industry is reaching a ýcritical mass,ý industry leaders said. Baltimoreýs share of companies, said Aris Melissaratos, secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, is likely to grow with the opening of the cityýs East Side and West Side biotech parks, affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, respectively.

Gallo to Visit Jamaica in January
The Jamaica Gleaner - Dec. 13

Robert Gallo, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, founder and co-director of the Institute of Human Virology, and a co-discoverer of HIV, is to visit Jamaica to talk about his work and research with local residents.
www.jamaica-gleaner.com

High and Low Blood Pressure Bad for Brain Function
PakTribune - Dec. 11

New research indicates that high and abnormally low blood pressures can have a detrimental effect on one's thinking ability. The findings are based on a study of 847 subjects who completed tests of cognitive function up to seven times over 11 years, Shari Waldstein, PhD, adjunct associate professor at the School of Medicine, and colleagues report in the medical journal Hypertension.
paktribune.com

Jamaican Government Interested in Backing Cancer Project
The Jamaica Gleaner - Dec. 13
The Jamaica Observer - Dec. 13
RadioJamaica.com - Dec. 12

The Jamaican government wants to partner with, as well as raise funds from, the local private sector to fund further research into the Jamaican cancer treatment breakthrough which uses extracts from two plants endemic to the island. Joseph Bryant, DVM, laboratory animal veterinarian at the Institute of Human Virology within the School of Medicine, carried out the testing on five cancers in test tubes and on transgenic mice genetically modified to carry human DNA. Their findings show that the extracts perform as well as Taxol, an existing chemotherapy drug.
www.jamaica-gleaner.com
www.jamaicaobserver.com
www.radiojamaica.com

Japanese Laws "Erase" American Father
AXcessnews.com - Dec. 12

The last time Brett Weed saw his 6-year-old son, Takoda, the pair was driving in Weedýs black Ford pick-up, the one that his son liked to call, "Daddy's big truck." That was also the day Takoda cheerfully announced, "I have a Japanese daddy." Takoda's babyish words threw Weed, 42, but it confirmed what he had long suspected: his ex-wife was slowly replacing him not only as a spouse but also as a father. "Abducting parents often make such excuses for the absent parent," said Geoffrey Greif, DSW, a professor in the School of Social Work and co-author of When Parents Kidnap.
www.axcessnews.com

Maryland Trooper in Critical Condition After Shooting
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 13
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 13
The Capital - Dec. 13
The Daily Record - Dec. 13
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5, 6, and 11 p.m. - Dec. 12
WMAR-TV, Ch. 2, 5, 6, and 11 p.m. ý Dec. 12
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 5:30 and 10 p.m. ý Dec. 12
WJZ-TV, Ch. 13, 4, 5, 6, and 11 p.m. - Dec. 12
The Associated Press - Dec. 12

A Maryland state trooper suffered life-threatening injuries yesterday when police closing in on a robbery suspect traded shots with the man. Eric Workman was hit in the left armpit and was "critically ill," said Thomas Scalea, MD, professor of surgery at the School of Medicine and head of surgery at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Workman was put on life support, said Scalea. "This is not over by a long, long shot," Scalea said. "We've got to get him through the next hours and days."
www.examiner.com
www.baltimoresun.com
www.hometownannapolis.com
www.wtopnews.com

Shock Trauma Surgeon Fights To Save His Friend
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 13

Thomas Scalea, MD, physician-in-chief of the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and professor at the School of Medicine, is the top surgeon in one of the country's premier trauma centers and revered in the tight law enforcement community. Known for his skill in the operating room and his ability to gently and succinctly deliver updates to family, police officials and the public, he is currently trying to save the life of his friend, Maryland State Trooper Eric Workman.
www.baltimoresun.com

With Focus Off Onions, E. coli Hunt Continues
The New York Times - Dec. 13

Almost a week after Taco Bell officials said they had zeroed in on a possible cause of the outbreak of E. coli, investigators say that those early indications appear to be wrong and that they may never learn the cause with certainty. Michael Taylor, JD, professor at the School of Medicine and a former deputy FDA commissioner for policy, said companies were inclined to respond quickly to such crises-even before the testing was completed, in some cases-because of intensive news coverage and the potential economic losses. "It makes the situation look herky-jerky," he said.
www.nytimes.com

Baltimoreans of the Year 2006
The Baltimore Magazine - Dec. issue

Named among the Baltimoreans of the Year 2006, Donald E. Wilson, MD, MACP, former dean of the School of Medicine, is profiled in an article that discusses his achievements as dean.

Demands for Reform of Baltimore Ground Rent
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 12

As they put up houses for sale, some Baltimore entrepreneurs are reviving the old practice of ground rents to make new profits. Rehabbers and ground rent holders are creating new rents on the land under those houses, saddling buyers with annual fees of more than $300. This has spurred a call by some legislators to reform ground rent law, but Garrett Power, LLB, LLM, a professor at the School of Law who has closely studied the ground rent system, says lawmakers can't abolish existing ground rents without compensating their owners because that would be unconstitutional.
www.baltimoresun.com

Doctors Say Study Points to Reduced Use of Angioplasty
The Washington Post - Dec. 12

Local cardiologists say a recent study's findings will change how they treat many stable heart attack patients who do not seek treatment until three or more days after an attack. Doctors say theyýll likely perform fewer angioplasties to unblock the arteries of such people. The study ýcompletely dispels the myth that no matter what time you open [a blocked artery], it's better to open it," said Mandeep Mehra, MD, chair of cardiology at the School of Medicine. "It's going to change our practice." In most cases, "72 hours after an event, youýre not going to open a closed artery," he said.
www.washingtonpost.com

Jamaican Cancer Drug Found
Jamaica Gleaner - Dec. 12

Jamaican biochemist Henry Lowe discovered a pair of native Jamaican plants that can help cure five cancers, while his American research partner Joseph Bryant, DVM, director of the animal models division and associate professor at the Institute of Human Virology at the School of Medicine, conducted the tests on cancer tumor cells in test tubes and then transgenic mice whose DNA has been modified to incorporate human genes. "My observation is that if this turns out to be worth anything ... it would be great for Jamaica," Bryant said.
www.jamaica-gleaner.com

Surgical Center a Technological Cut Above the Rest
Annapolis Gazette - Dec. 10

Movie magic is now being used in operating room research and training. "You can have your golf swing measured, you can have your (baseball) pitch measured ý but no one has even had surgical movements measured before," says Adrian Park, MD, professor of surgery at the School of Medicine and director of the Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Center, located on the seventh floor of the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC).
www.hometownannapolis.com

Holiday Poisoning Dangers
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 7:30 a.m. - Dec. 10.

Poinsettias, contrary to conventional wisdom, are not a danger to children, but other common holiday decorations from the berries on holly and mistletoe plants are poisonous, said Angel Bivens, RPh, MBA, public education coordinator at the Maryland Poison Center at the School of Pharmacy. "Make sure you keep an eye on what the kids are doing," she said in a live interview.

Mummygate
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 5:30 and 10 p.m. ý Dec. 8

The mummified corpse of a child found and nearly auctioned on eBay by a person in Michigan likely belongs to a 500-piece collection owned by the School of Medicine, said Ronald Wade, director of the Anatomical Services Division. The body was purchased for the school nearly 200 years ago. "I think it should be with the rest of the collection as a specimen," Wade said.

West River Ruling Could Send Critical Message
The Capital - Dec. 10

The Anne Arundel County Board of Appeals has struck a blow for environmental enforcement, denying a retroactive variance for a West River landowner who built in the Critical Area without proper permits. A recent study by the School of Law's Environmental Law Clinic showed violators often are given retroactive variances or permits for the work that was a violation in the first place.
www.hometownannapolis.com

Boost Good Cholesterol Without a Pill
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 8

Niacin has been used as a cholesterol medication for about 30 years. Over-the-counter forms of niacin also have been linked to rare cases of liver failure, said Michael Miller, MD, director of preventive cardiology at the School of Medicine. "At the doses you need to affect HDL, it's considered a medication," he said, "and needs to be monitored by your physician."
www.baltimoresun.com

Exchange Fever Goes Country
thestreet.com - Dec. 8

While the two U.S. stock exchanges are setting their sights on overseas growthýthe New York Stock Exchange will soon close on its acquisition of Paris-based Euronext, while Nasdaq is aggressively pushing for control of the London Stock Exchangeýthey're both finding more competition at home. "People now see that exchanges are more than just mere intermediaries-they're profit centers," says Michael Greenberger, JD, a professor at the School of Law and a former director of trading and markets for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during the Clinton Administration.

Fine-Slicing Racial Classifications
The Daily Record - Dec. 8

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in a pair of cases-Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District and Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education-testing the limits of school districtsý abilities to integrate their schools under the federal Equal Protection Clause. The Supreme Court's Equal Protection jurisprudence is far too dull a knife for the subtle racial classifications that demand fine slicing, writes Steven Schwinn, JD, an associate professor at the School of Law.

High Tech Surgical Training Center Opens
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 8

The University of Maryland Medical Center Wednesday unveiled its Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Center-a high-tech classroom for surgery students and shock-trauma workers. Calling it the future of surgical training centers in the United States, Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "There aren't many that are actually physically embedded in a hospital."
www.baltimoresun.com

Know What Your Agents Are Doing
The Daily Record - Dec. 8

When a principal authorizes its independent contractor and the principal benefits financially from the contracts made on behalf of the principal by its agent, the principal may be liable in an action brought under the Lanham Act for unfair competition. This can occur if the agentýs bad acts are reasonably foreseeable, the consumer does not know that the agent is not authorized to make the misrepresentations, and reliance on the misrepresentation by the customer is reasonable, writes James Astrachan, JD, an adjunct professor at the School of Law.

Mummy May Be Part of UM Collection
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 8

Michigan authorities confiscated the mummified cadaver of a child illegally placed for sale on eBay. Ronn Wade, BS, director of the anatomical services division at the School of Medicine, is convinced the body is part of an obscure but historic set of medical mummies known as the Burns collection. "It is very valuable and very historic," says Larry Pitrof, executive director of the Medical Alumni Association.
www.baltimoresun.com

Rock Named Chairman
Baltimore Business Journal - Dec. 8
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 8

Peter Rock, MD, MBA, chief of anesthesiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, was named the Dr. Martin Helrich Professor and chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the School of Medicine.

The Art of Appellate Advocacy: Writing a Memorable Question
The Daily Record - Dec. 8

A legible name tag, like a well-written question, changes everything, removes the mystery, and provides crucial context for the reader, writes Andrew Baida, JD, an adjunct professor of appellate advocacy at the School of Law. Writing an effective question is one of the biggest challenges brief-writers face because, to do it well, the writer must reduce to one sentence a succinct description of the issue that the appellate court is being asked to decide. Make sure you ask the right question by directing the reader's attention to the core point of disagreement between the parties, Baida adds.

Access to Attorney Subject of Suit
Arbutus Times - Dec. 7

A high-profile Baltimore law firm has joined a University of Maryland law professor and his students to demand that suspects have a lawyer present when they first appear before a District Court commissioner. The suit was brought Nov. 13 to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City by Venable LLP. It "seeks to call attention to the reality that any person arrested in Maryland should not expect legal counsel when they first appear before a judicial officer," said Doug Colbert, JD, a professor at the School of Law who is working with the Venable attorneys.
news.mywebpal.com

Bringing Nursing to the Bench
Nursing Spectrum - Dec. 4

During the 10 years she spent in critical care and home infusion services, Susan Dorsey, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the School of Nursing, harbored a keen interest in scientific research. Today, Dorsey splits her time between studying neurotrophins and teaching and advising students who are engaged in bench research. Along with colleagues, she is helping to develop a Center of Excellence within the School that will focus on disorders of neuroregulatory function.
community.nursingspectrum.com

High Tech Surgical Training Center Opens
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 7
SouthernMaryland Online - Dec. 6
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 5 p.m. - Dec. 6
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - Dec. 6

The University of Maryland Medical Center Wednesday unveiled its Maryland Simulation Training and Innovation Centerýa high-tech classroom for surgery students and shock-trauma workers. Adrian Park, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, said, "There aren't many that are actually physically embedded in a hospital." "Students or residents can practice their surgical skills without putting any patients at risk," Stephen Bartlett, MD, chief of surgery at the Medical Center and also a professor of surgery at the School of Medicine, added.
www.examiner.com
somd.com

School of Medicine Announces Bicentennial Celebration Plans
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - Nov. 29

In a ceremony highlighted by a surprise "appearance" by the first dean of the School of Medicine, plans for a yearlong celebration of the bicentennial were announced. "I think we can say that the School of Medicine is right up there with the Ivy League medical institutes not just in age, but quality as well," said William E. Kirwan, PhD, chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

Study May Lead to Better Dental Composites
United Press International - Dec. 7
CCNmag.com - Dec. 7 (this appeared on four other web sites)

A University of California, San Diego structural engineering professor and Howard Strassler, DMD, professor at the Dental School, are reporting results of detailed engineering tests on dental composites containing glass fibers, as well as the type of polyethylene fibers used in bullet-proof vests. Strassler said, "Makers of fiber-reinforced dental composites need a much better understanding of how their products actually perform as part of a restoration, crown, or bridge, and this study provides an analytical standard with which all composites should be evaluated in the future."
science.monstersandcritics.com
www.ccnmag.com

Violent Teens Are "Inundated With Loss"
WMAR-TV, Ch. 2, 5 and 6 p.m. - Dec. 5
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - Dec. 5

Kenneth Hardy, an expert and author on adolescent violence, says he knows the causes of youth violence and how to treat them. A professor of family therapy at Syracuse University, he came to the School of Social Work Dec. 5 to lead a workshop, "Dying to be Saved: Strategies for Addressing Adolescent Violence." Hardy said teens "have been inundated with loss. Yet they have been through no mourning, very little acknowledgment of that loss. There is no grieving, so they donýt feel anything."

Hiring of Local Residents Slow at Biotech Parks
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 6

When the University of Maryland, Baltimore picked Poppleton as the home for its new biotechnology-focused business park, there was a lot of talk about the entry-level work it would bring. More than a year after the first BioPark building opened on W. Baltimore St., just four of its 200 workers live within walking distance. Jane Shaab, senior director of business development for the Universityýs Office of Research and Development, said the BioPark has succeeded with little city funding.
www.baltimoresun.com

Police Appearance Policy Raises Racial Sensitivity Issues
WBAL-TV, Ch. 11, 6 p.m. - Dec. 5

Officials with the Baltimore Police Department say a new professional appearance policy is intended to promote a professional image, but itýs also raising questions of racial insensitivity. The new policy governs hair length, jewelry, mustaches, and beards, and prohibits extreme, or ýfad,ý hairstyles, including cornrows, mohawks, dreadlocks, and twists. ýI think itýs incredibly insensitive,ý said Taunya Banks, JD, professor at the School of Law. "I'm really kind of concerned about labeling as faddish a practice that's not faddish at all, and what appears to be a targeting of black officers."
www.thewbalchannel.com

Violent Teens Are "Inundated With Loss"
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 6

Kenneth Hardy, an expert and author on adolescent violence, says he knows the causes of youth violence and how to treat them. A professor of family therapy at Syracuse University, he came to the School of Social Work Dec. 5 to lead a workshop, "Dying to be Saved: Strategies for Addressing Adolescent Violence." Hardy said teens "have been inundated with loss. Yet they have been through no mourning, very little acknowledgment of that loss. There is no grieving, so they donýt feel anything."
www.examiner.com

Fallout From Failure of Drug
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 4

Pfizer, Inc., announced plans Saturday to end a large clinical trial of an experimental cholesterol drug because of increased death rates. The trial involved 15,000 patients at hospitals around the country, included nearly 600 at two Baltimore-area medical centers, the St. Joseph Medical Center and the University of Maryland Medical Center. "We're frantically calling all the patients to let them know they should stop taking the medication," said Michael Miller, MD, associate professor at the School of Medicine and a principal investigator.

Gay Marriage Fight Escalates
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 5
The Associated Press - Dec. 5
The Daily Record - Dec. 5

The Court of Appeals heard arguments yesterday over whether the state constitution allows gay couples to marry. Deborah Weimer, JD, LLM, professor at the School of Law, said it could go either way and expects "a close vote." Weimer co-wrote a brief in support of the plaintiffs that was signed by more than two-thirds of professors. Dan Friedman, JD, adjunct professor at the School who watched the oral arguments that were Webcast in the Schoolýs moot courtroom, said the technology worked well and the students were interested in the case.
www.baltimoresun.com
www.examiner.com

Virology Unit Will Move to School of Medicine
The Daily Record - Dec. 5

The Institute of Human Virology, the decade-old HIV and AIDS research center run by Robert Gallo, MD, professor at the School of Medicine, founder and co-director of the Institute of Human Virology, and a co-discoverer of HIV, has found a home of its own. The University System of Maryland Board of Regents voted Friday to move IHV from the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute to the School of Medicine. IHV Chief Operating Officer David Wilkins, MBA, said he is relieved to see an end to the headaches associated with "straddling two universities."

As Maryland Medical School's Bicentennial Nears, a Body Returns
MSNBC.com - Dec. 3
Chronicle.com - Dec. 3

So as the School of Medicine begins to celebrate its bicentennial and a distinguished history as the nationýs oldest public medical school, it seems only fitting that one of the centuries-old cadavers belonging to its mummy collection has resurfaced. The mummy recently turned up for sale on the auction site, e-Bay. In its early years, the School faced public outrage because people believed faculty had robbed graves to teach anatomy. Larry Pitrof, executive director of the Medical Alumni Association discusses the reported hostilities when it was discovered a grave had been emptied.
www.msnbc.msn.com
chronicle.com

Controversy Persists Over 'Safe Haven' Law
The Plain Dealer - Dec. 2

Some child advocates say Ohio's "safe haven" law, which allows parents who do not want to keep their newborns 72 hours after the birth of a baby to hand it over to authorities uninjured to avoid prosecution, is too long. "I think it's probably worthwhile for Ohio to re-examine this issue," said Richard P. Barth, PhD, dean of the School of Social Work. "I don't know if 72 hours is the right time limit for that."

Gay Marriage Fight Escalates
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 3

Maryland's highest court hears arguments today over whether the state constitution allows gay couples to marry. Many groups have filed briefs supporting the plaintiffs, including professors from the School of Law. "There is no rational reason to exclude same-sex couples from the institution of marriage," said Jana Singer, JD, professor at the School, who added that in her 21 years at the University, no other case has drawn as many professors to sign friend-of-the-court briefs.

A Trial for High Court's Webcast
TheWBALChannel.com - Nov. 30

The Court of Appeals, Maryland's highest court, has begun Webcasting its oral arguments, making the proceedings widely and immediately available for the first time to people outside its Annapolis courtroom. [C]ases involving issues such as gay marriage and the death penalty might attract an audience, although it's doubtful few people would want to watch arguments about whether a state agency followed its own regulations, said William Reynolds, JD, professor at the School of Law.
www.thewbalchannel.com

At 200, School of Medicine Looks to the Future
WBFF-TV, Ch. 45, 10 p.m. - Nov. 29 and 6 a.m. - Nov. 30

Wednesday marked the symbolic launch of a year of celebration for the School of Medicine, the nationýs oldest public medical school, which turns 200 next year. "I think we can say that the School of Medicine is right up there with the Ivy League medical institutes not just in age, but quality as well," said William E. Kirwan, PhD, chancellor of the University System of Maryland.

Coping With Rising Cost of Construction
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 1

The people who manage construction for Baltimore's public universities are getting used to cost-cutting on the fly-changing roofing, flooring, even the design of the building itself in a mad race against time. "It's been difficult,' said Ron Brown, associate director for architecture, engineering, and construction at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, who handles projects at institutions across the metro area. "When costs go up, you either find a way to do things smarter, or you buy less."
www.baltimoresun.com

Gay Marriage Case Goes to Maryland High Court
Washington Blade - Dec. 1

Nine same-sex couples are expected to be present in an Annapolis courtroom Monday, when Marylandýs highest court hears arguments over whether the state constitution allows the couples to cement their relationships through marriage. "This court is not ideologically driven," said Dan Friedman, JD, adjunct professor at the School of Law. "It is difficult to predict how they will rule on this case. It's a wild card issue."
www.washblade.com

Health Officials Say Radiation Threat Minimal
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 1

Polonium-210 killed former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, but the risk that other people may have been exposed to the deadly radioactive material is low, health officials said. "With low doses, it would be extremely difficult to know if you've been exposed to radiation," said William Morgan, PhD, professor at the School of Medicine. "Someone could scatter radioactive material everywhere and you would never know youýve been exposed to it."
www.examiner.com

Maryland Dentist Reaches Out to Troops Serving Overseas
ADA.org - Nov. 30

On Nov. 16, Robert Strahl, DDS, MS, a volunteer adjunct professor, and student leaders at the Dental School took his program "A Taste of Home" to another level, packing "smile kits" with dental supplies and greeting cards in Arabic for troop distribution to Iraqi children. That was the first packaging of goodwill kits for children in combat zones served by Maryland National Guard troops, and the first "A Taste of Home" project involving dental students. Now Strahl wants to interest other state dental associations and the American Dental Association in the program.
www.ada.org

Panel Supports Gay Parents
The (Baltimore) Sun - Dec. 1

Just days before Maryland's highest court hears arguments concerning gay marriage, a group of sociologists, psychologists, and child-welfare advocates spoke out yesterday in support of the issue. "The state shouldnýt treat committed couples as legal strangers, especially when youýre raising children," said Susan Leviton, JD, professor at the School of Law and founder of Advocates for Children and Youth.
www.baltimoresun.com

Physician's Experience a Key in Bariatric Surgery Success
The (Baltimore) Examiner - Dec. 1

The mortality rates for bariatric surgery are highly dependent upon the number of times a physician has performed the operation, according to Mark Kligman, MD, assistant professor at the School of Medicine. "Experience has played a role in outcomes in mortality rates, obesity's morbidity rate, and short- and long-term weight loss," Kligman said.
www.examiner.com

Report Claims EPA, States Falling Short on Inspections
Environmental News Service - Nov. 30
E & E News - Nov. 30

Deep cuts in federal spending for state and local air pollution programs are hamstringing efforts to combat ground-level ozone and other air pollutants that contribute to public health problems, according to a new report from the Center for American Progress and The Center for Progressive Reform. "When it comes to ozone pollution, the cop is off the beat. Laws that aren't enforced arenýt respected." said Rena Steinzor, JD, professor at the School of Law, director of the Environmental Law Clinic, and co-author of the report.
www.ens-newswire.com

The Future of Nanomedicine
The Daily Record - Dec. 1

Nanomedicine could be used to engineer tiny biomicrosystems that could act as laboratories, trapping and testing just one cell for diagnostic purposes or even drug discovery. That concept is being explored at the Center for Nanomedicine and Cellular Delivery at the School of Pharmacy. Nanoparticles, said Hamid Ghandehari, PhD, associate professor at the School and director of the Center, could even go so far as to alter the human genome.