Monthly Archives: March 2014

Two UMass Medical School students take home prestigious Weintraub Award

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

25-Mar-2014

Contact: Jim Fessenden james.fessenden@umassmed.edu 508-856-2000 University of Massachusetts Medical School

WORCESTER, MA. Colin Conine and Emma Watson, PhD students in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, received the 2014 Harold M. Weintraub Graduate Student Award for research into the mechanisms governing epigenetic inheritance and the complex interactions between diet, gene expression and physiology. Only 13 students from North America were chosen for the prestigious award sponsored by the Basic Sciences Division of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. UMass Medical School was one of only two institutions to have multiple winners this year.

"I'm happy that both Colin and I won the award this year. I think it's a testament to the strong community of C. elegans biologists here at UMass Medical School, with whom we have both trained," said Watson, a doctoral candidate in the Program in Systems Biology. "We use the roundworm C. elegans to explore basic biological processes and find new angles of attack for human disease. C. elegans was the perfect model for me to study the genetic underpinnings that link diet and physiology. Its metabolic network and nutritional requirements are surprisingly a lot like ours, despite being a soil-dwelling nematode that eats bacteria all day long!"

Watson is working in the lab of Marian Walhout, PhD, co-director of the Program in Systems Biology and professor of molecular medicine.

"Emma is an outstanding graduate student who fully deserves this award," said Dr. Walhout. "It is a pleasure to work with her. She is hard working, smart, fun and has vision. If she sets the bar, it is very high!"

Conine is studying in the lab of 2006 Nobel Laureate Craig C. Mello, PhD.

"There is still so much we don't understand about inheritance. Genetics and DNA don't explain everything," said Conine, a doctoral candidate in molecular biology and genetics. "Epigenetic inheritance of RNA provides a new way of looking at how information is passed from generation to generation that could help us explain disease causes that have eluded DNA studies."

"The Weintraub Award is the Nobel of thesis awards," said Dr. Mello, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, the Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine and distinguished professor of molecular medicine and cell biology. "It is a huge honor and a deserving award for Colin, who has a wonderful blend of curiosity and tenacity that has allowed him to tackle difficult problems. Colin has a rare attribute as a scientist to make connections that others miss. I expect great things from Colin and have no doubt that he will go on to become a leading independent researcher."

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Two UMass Medical School students take home prestigious Weintraub Award

Medical marijuana may alleviate some MS symptoms

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Some forms of medical marijuana may help alleviate certain symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to new guidelines published in the journal Neurology.

Complementary or alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, such as medical marijuana, are popular among patients with MS, who often seek them out to help alleviate symptoms or pain associated with their disease. However, few guidelines exist to help patients determine the effectiveness of these therapies, according to study author Dr. Pushpa Narayanaswami.

We wanted to review the literature well and see where we went with it, to guide patients and physicians as well, Narayanaswami, an assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School, told FoxNews.com. Theres nothing out there that looks at all of these to see how effective and safe they are.

The researchers examined a wide array of CAM therapies, drawing from a list created by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a subsidy of the National Institutes of Health. In addition to medical marijuana, the researchers also studied other remedies including ginkgo biloba, magnetic therapy, bee sting therapy, omega-3 fatty acids and reflexology.

In a review of 2,608 studies, the researchers were able to assess which forms of CAM therapies had sufficient evidence to indicate that they may be effective for patients with MS. Overall, researchers discovered that certain forms of medical marijuana a spray form and a pill form appeared to have the most evidence indicating they may be helpful in patients with MS.

What we learned are these specific forms of medical marijuana can ease patients symptoms specific symptoms of spasticity, or muscle stiffness and helped with frequent urination, Narayanaswami said.

While medical marijuana provided relief for some symptoms, it did not alleviate other effects of MS, including tremors or urinary incontinence. Medical marijuana also carried some negative side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, being off balance and cognitive problems in some people, researchers noted.

While spray forms of medical marijuana are only available in Europe and Canada, some pill forms of medical marijuana have been approved in the U.S. to treat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

Among other therapies tested, some were more effective than others.

Gingko biloba, an herb that lots of people use for memory, actually ended up having good studies that suggested it doesnt really help thinking or memory problems in the patient population, Narayanaswami said. But there was a low level of evidence suggesting it may help reduce tiredness or fatigue.

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Medical marijuana may alleviate some MS symptoms

Observer Forum: Letters to the editor

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Eastland Mall site is perfect place for a medical school

There is lip-service given to the need for a medical school in Charlotte, but no movement to fund such a project.

Yet, the Charlotte City Council is spending huge sums to upgrade our sports facilities.

And, what about Eastland Mall? A medical school complex at that site would certainly be a boost to the local community and could provide accessible health care facilities.

The economic impact from a medical school easily surpasses $2 billion a year, and it would be a realistic source of jobs. So, lets put our priorities straight and take on financing of a medical school, and offer a real asset at the Eastland site!

Dr. Richard B. Reiling

Charlotte

In response to Despite concerns, city will study ash at airport (March 25):

Rather than move coal ash by the truckload, consider this

Why not move the coal ash by rail from Riverbend to Charlotte Douglas International Airport?

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Observer Forum: Letters to the editor

Liberty Lake police close in on vehicle prowl suspects – Tue, 25 Mar 2014 PST

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The Liberty Lake Police Department mounted an aggressive response when 11 car break-ins were reported in one night last Thursday. By the end of the day they had identified three suspects and sent 20 officers to canvass the parking lots of hotels and large apartment complexes close to Interstate 90 to hunt for the thieves. Two of the three suspects were nearly arrested early last Thursday, but a bit of luck and a new police radio system that hasnt been fully integrated allowed them to get away, said Police Chief Brian Asmus. A Washington State Patrol trooper spotted a

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The Liberty Lake Police Department mounted an aggressive response when 11 car break-ins were reported in one night last Thursday. By the end of the day they had identified three suspects and sent 20 officers to canvass the parking lots of hotels and large apartment complexes close to Interstate 90 to hunt for the thieves.

Two of the three suspects were nearly arrested early last Thursday, but a bit of luck and a new police radio system that hasnt been fully integrated allowed them to get away, said Police Chief Brian Asmus.

A Washington State Patrol trooper spotted a car driving oddly on Harvard Road at 4 a.m. last Thursday and attempted to pull it over. The car sped away and wrecked near Harvard and Euclid. The man and woman inside ran away as the trooper called for backup. Police are using a new digital radio system, but it hasnt yet been set up to allow different agencies to talk to each other, Asmus said. No Spokane County deputies or Liberty Lake officers were notified of the troopers call for assistance, but a Liberty Lake officer happened to drive by on his way to a call and stopped to help.

They got away, said Asmus. The car, from what we can see, is full of stolen property related to our car prowls.

A stolen credit card led police to a Zip Trip gas station, where police used video surveillance to identify a woman and two men getting gas and lottery tickets, said Detective Ray Bourgeois.

The group seems to prefer stealing from cars parked at hotels and large apartment complexes, Bourgeois said. Stolen credit cards have been used to buy gas and to shop at local Wal-Marts. Bourgeois said the same group appears to be responsible for dozens of other break-ins in Spokane, Airway Heights, Spokane Valley and at the Spokane Airport. A recent rash of break-ins in Coeur dAlene may also be related.

These guys have been all over the county, Bourgeois said. I know the Valley has been hit pretty hard.

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Liberty Lake police close in on vehicle prowl suspects - Tue, 25 Mar 2014 PST

Air NZ renews Cook Islands agreement

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Air New Zealand has re-signed agreements with the Cook Islands Government to operate non-stop services between Rarotonga and Los Angeles and Rarotonga and Sydney.

The airline has worked alongside the Cook Islands Government to operate a weekly return service to Los Angeles since 2007 and to Sydney since 2010.

Air New Zealand Manager Pacific Islands Peter Walsh says the airlines latest safety video which was shot in the Cook Islands has helped to cast a global spotlight on the tropical beauty of the Cooks.

"The agreements ensure that visitors from both the Northern Hemisphere and Australia have convenient travel options that allow them to experience this island paradise in person."

Air New Zealand was announced as the preferred bidder for the tender to provide the two long haul services in November following a comprehensive Government review of the underwritten contracts.

"We are honoured to renew these two four year agreements to operate to Los Angeles and Sydney from Rarotonga" says Mr Walsh.

"These services will help to further stimulate tourism in the Cooks and ensure the picturesque islands remain accessible to those outside of New Zealand."

In 2013 Air New Zealand carried around 200,000 people to Rarotonga from Auckland, Sydney and Los Angeles.

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Air NZ renews Cook Islands agreement

Long haul Cook Islands services renewed

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Air New Zealand renews agreements to operate long haul Cook Islands services

Air New Zealand has re-signed agreements with the Cook Islands Government to operate non-stop services between Rarotonga and Los Angeles and Rarotonga and Sydney.

The airline has worked alongside the Cook Islands Government to operate a weekly return service to Los Angeles since 2007 and to Sydney since 2010.

Air New Zealand Manager Pacific Islands Peter Walsh says the airlines latest safety video which was shot in the Cook Islands has helped to cast a global spotlight on the tropical beauty of the Cooks.

The agreements ensure that visitors from both the Northern Hemisphere and Australia have convenient travel options that allow them to experience this island paradise in person.

Air New Zealand was announced as the preferred bidder for the tender to provide the two long haul services in November following a comprehensive Government review of the underwritten contracts.

We are honoured to renew these two four year agreements to operate to Los Angeles and Sydney from Rarotonga says Mr Walsh.

These services will help to further stimulate tourism in the Cooks and ensure the picturesque islands remain accessible to those outside of New Zealand.

In 2013 Air New Zealand carried around 200,000 people to Rarotonga from Auckland, Sydney and Los Angeles.

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Long haul Cook Islands services renewed