Saturday, December 5, 2009

“Internationally known scholar named Excellence Chair in Prion Biology - High Plains Journal” plus 3 more

“Internationally known scholar named Excellence Chair in Prion Biology - High Plains Journal” plus 3 more

Internationally known scholar named Excellence Chair in Prion Biology - High Plains Journal

Posted: 05 Dec 2009 08:07 AM PST

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Internationally known scholar named Excellence Chair in Prion Biology

Wyoming

A renowned scholar, with the research background to lead the University of Wyoming's studies of chronic wasting disease and related animal and human disorders, is the newest endowed chair at UW.

Hermann Schatzl is the Wyoming Excellence Chair in Prion Biology. He will come to UW in January and will have a split appointment in the UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources departments of Veterinary Sciences and Molecular Biology. He is professor of clinical virology and head of the Clinical Virology Section at Technical University of Munich in Germany.

The 2006 Wyoming State Legislature established the Excellence in Higher Education Endowment, which included a $70 million endowment to create at UW senior faculty positions for highly distinguished scholars and educators. The legislation creating the endowment states the endowed positions must expand university instruction and research in disciplines related to economic and social challenges facing Wyoming.

The UW Wyoming Excellence chairs are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their fields.

"Professor Schatzl is exactly the kind of internationally known scholar we had hoped we could attract to UW with funding and support from the Wyoming Excellence Endowment," said Nicole Ballenger, UW associate provost. "With¬ Schatzl here, UW has the potential to be an international center of excellence in prion disease biology, a frontier area of science and one that is extremely relevant to the state."

Schatzl's specialty is in the study of prions, the proteins that underlie chronic wasting disease (CWD) of deer and elk. This is the same class of protein that also causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy of cattle and scrapie in sheep.

"His scholarly reputation in the field of prion diseases will provide a solid foundation for ongoing and future research at UW to better understand these invariably fatal neurological diseases that affect humans as well as animals," said Professor Don Montgomery, head of the Department of Veterinary Sciences. "Much is unknown concerning the prion diseases. Schatzl's research will lead to a basic understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the prion diseases, some important to the state of Wyoming including scrapie and CWD."

Schatzl's research in the field of infectious neurodegenerative diseases is recognized internationally, specifically, diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies of humans and animals caused by abnormal prion proteins. These diseases include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, fatal familial insomnia, Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker disease and transmissible mink encephalopathy.

Between 1983-1989, Schatzl studied medicine at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. He received his medical degree (1991) from the Department of Virology at the Max von Pettenkofer Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Munich.

Schatzl pursued post-doctoral studies (1993-1995) in the laboratory of Nobel Prize Laureate Stanley Prusiner, known for his seminal work on abnormal prion proteins and the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

He has received grant support of more than EU 8 million, has published in many international scientific publications and books and has two patents related to his research work.

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Cell biology and computer science: a logical marriage - ScienceBlog.com

Posted: 04 Dec 2009 11:10 PM PST

December 4, 2009 by Katrix

Anyone that has ever tried to write a rate equation for an enzymatic reaction in a biological process knows that it often disperses into a series of overwhelming, unintelligible numbers. While singular biological pathways are hard enough to interpret with such conventional methods, whole cell systems that integrate several pathways become that much harder. Figures that result from physiological processes are complex enough to befuddle even the most experienced statisticians and powerful computers.

An innovative new approach to such studies is the use of "logic" as opposed to hard numbers based on the principles of computer programming.

In "executable biology," as it's being called, each part of a biological system corresponds to a piece of programming code. Hence the signals, interactions and thereby, the effects of the processes are explored using the corresponding computer code.

In conventional science, schematic diagrams are often used to demonstrated pathways and processes in living systems. What this form of computation biology does is translate an entire such schematic into a series of programming statements that collectively form a computer simulation. The hope is that as this science develops, programs could automatically translate such schematics into simulations.

The advantage of such a method is that it can assess, reaffirm and predict sequences and events in biological systems, with an emphasis on logic over hard numbers.

Jasmin Fisher and her husband, Nir Piterman, have literally married computer science with molecular biology using this approach, as described in last week's issue of Nature.

Using software that was originally developed to find errors in microchip circuitry, Fisher and her colleagues -- in partnership with Piterman -- have traced flaws in signaling pathways in the worm, C. elegans.

A series of computer code corresponding to the pathways was generated, and "standard model-checking algorithms" routinely used in computer hardware were used to determine if the logic in the series of statements is consistent. This makes the information obtained qualitative as opposed to quantitative, since the reliance is on rules rather than numbers.

Any discrepancies in the system would be revealed by errors determined by the code. For instance, among permutations of 48 known mutations that affect vulval development in the worm, only 4 were found to be abnormal based on the program. Two of the four were seen to produce previously uncharacterized effects upon further simulation. These findings were then followed up with laboratory experiments.

While the results of computer programming may not be good standalones for the detection of biological effects, they certainly seem like a great way to manage large volumes of data that are produced in genetic studies, many of which are unmanageable without computational biology. Such programming can allow the distilling of large volumes of data and predict future experiments to reinforce hypotheses.

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Pulmonary hypertension: USA doctors offer hope, treatment for rare ... - Everything Alabama Blog

Posted: 05 Dec 2009 06:41 AM PST

By Casandra Andrews

December 05, 2009, 8:32AM
Katie Lessard.JPG(Photo courtesy USA)Katie Lessard found help for her disease at the USA's Pulmonary Hypertension Center.    MOBIlE, Ala. -- Navy helicopter pilot Katie Lessard ran her first marathon four years ago. In the months that followed, she couldn't jog six miles without gasping for air.

    A year and a half later, when climbing stairs wore her out, she told a flight surgeon. After dozens of tests, an echocardiogram revealed that the right side of Lessard's heart was larger than the left.

    In 2007, she was diagnosed with a rare and dangerous form of pulmonary hypertension characterized by continuous high blood pressure in the lungs. Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension strikes young and old, and has no known cause and no cure.

    "The prognosis was really bad," said Lessard, 32. "They gave me a couple of years to live."

    Lessard's form of the hypertension is so unusual that only two people in every million will learn that they have it, data suggest.

    No longer able to fly, Lessard retired from military service, and eventually moved from San Diego to Pensacola with her husband, also a Navy pilot.

    Searching for a new doctor, she found Karen Fagan at the University of South Alabama's Pulmonary Hypertension Center.

    One of the first things that Fagan did after meeting Lessard was introduce her to someone who's lived with the disease for 20 years.

    Fagan is a physician and scientist who moved to Mobile from Denver two years ago to lead the Pulmonary Hypertension Center.

   

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is a blood vessel disorder of the lung in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery rises above normal levels. For some, the condition can be life-threatening. There is no cure, though some people eventually have lung transplants.

Symptoms of pulmonary hypertension include shortness of breath with minimal exertion, fatigue, chest pain, dizzy spells and fainting.

Source: Pulmonary Hypertension Association

The doctors working there provide patient care while pursuing improved treatments and ultimately a cure for the disease through research at the USA Center for Lung Biology.

    Fagan said she was recruited to the area by her mentor of more than a decade, Ivan McMurtry, a researcher at the Center for Lung Biology.

    Scientific discoveries by McMurtry and his former Colorado colleagues serve as the basis for many of the drugs used to address pulmonary hypertension, Fagan said.

    Lessard takes three medications daily for her disease. A cell-phone-size green device clipped to her side continuously pumps a drug called Remodulin into her system.

    Lessard said that the diagnosis turned out to be "a blessing in disguise." She explained, "It has enabled me to take a step back and slow down my life a little bit."

    These days, the former runner has taken up pottery and expanded her reading. She also does a lot of talking with new pulmonary hypertension patients.

    She tells them to be patient as doctors work to find the right combination of drugs for them.

    "It's really, really scary but it does get better," Lessard said. "You learn to adapt. And the drugs are out there to help you feel almost like you used to."

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Tonight is a big night for pageant contestants - Mansfield News Journal

Posted: 05 Dec 2009 06:41 AM PST

MANSFIELD -- Fifteen contestants will compete for two titles tonight that will lead to the Miss Ohio stage at the Renaissance Theatre in June.

Laura Russell serves as director of both preliminaries, to take place at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Mansfield Senior High School. Doors open at 6 p.m., and a pre-show starts at 6:30 p.m.

Featured performers include former Miss Ohio 2007 Roberta Camp-Albert, Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2009 Veronica Wende, outgoing Miss Mansfield Nanciann Strosnider and Miss Mansfield 2007 Emily Cousino.

Russell is co-director with Anne Hablitzel, of the Miss Mansfield Outstanding Teen program.

A Little Miss Snowflake pageant is set for 1 p.m. today at Senior High.

Admission is $10 for adults. Tickets, which can be purchased at the door, are good for the evening Miss and Teen programs.

Miss North Central Ohio and Miss Mansfield contestants are:

  • Emily Pheils, of Rossford, who attends Bowling Green State University, is studying popular culture. Her platform issue is: "Dove Campaign For Real Beauty. She plans to obtain a master's degree in popular culture. She will sing "Lost In Your Eyes."

  • Alyssa Phillips, of Cygnet, who attends Bowling Green State University, is studying apparel merchandising. Her platform issue is: "A 'Sign' of the times." She plans to earn a bachelor's degree in apparel merchandising with a marketing minor. She will sing "This is Me."

  • Lauren R. Talaga, of Mansfield, who attends the University of Utah, is studying biology after a two-year stint at Brigham Young University. Her platform issue is "Promoting literacy where we live." She plans to attend medical school to become a pediatrician. She will play Mozart's Concerto No. 1 in G Major on the flute.

  • Heather Wells, of Howland, is a junior at Kent State University. Her platform is "Groomed for success -- youth development through the 4-H organization." She plans to obtain a bachelor of science degree in broadcast journalism and wants to be a news anchor. She will dance.

  • Amber Bussa, of Wheelersburg, attends The Ohio State University and plans to pursue a career as a nutritionist after graduation. She will sing "Popular" from "Wicked."

  • Jade L. Davis, of Mansfield, is a senior at Pioneer Career and Technology Center in the nursing assistant program. Her platform is "Helping underprivileged children." Her career goal is to receive a master's degree in nursing. She will dance to "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna.

  • Mary Esther Cousino, of Ottawa Lake, Mich., is studying nursing at Mercy College of Northwest Ohio. Her platform is "Heart Start education." She plans to obtain a doctorate in anthropology. She will perform a classical piano selection, "Claire de Lune."

  • Sasha Eby, of Zanesville, is attending Muskingum University and pursuing a bachelor of neuroscience degree. Her platform is "Worth the wait: Promoting abstinence to today's teens." She plans to obtain a master's degree in orthodontistry. She will sing "Forget About the Boy."

  • Marisa Buchheit, of Chicago, is a junior vocal performance major at Cleveland Institute of Music. Her platform is "Reaching out with music." She plans to pursue a career as an opera singer. She will sing "O mio babbino caro" by Puccini.

  • Christina Muha, of North Royalton, is a freshman nursing student at the University of Toledo. Her platform is "Heart to Heart: Be smart." She plans to become a pediatrician or nurse practitioner. She will play Pachelbel's "Canon in D" on French horn.

  • Jessica Lynnea Nelson, of Toledo, is studying pre-veterinary biology at the University of Toledo. Her platform is "P.E.T.S. -- Promoting Education, Training and Safety." She will perform interpretive dance.

  • Brandi Herceg, of Steubenville, is a senior at Franciscan University of Steubenville studying early childhood education. Her platform is "Love your heart -- learn the truth: Heart disease awareness and education." She will dance to "Dancing In The Street."

  • Haripriya (Priya) Sharma, of Cleveland, is a senior at Cleveland State University pursuing a bachelor's of science in health sciences. Her platform is: "Promoting Cancer Research and Awareness." She plans to obtain master's and doctorate degrees in occupational therapy. She will dance to "Aaja Nachle."

  • Melissa Nicole Stevens, of Toledo, is a sophomore at Owens Community College pursuing an associate of math and science degree. Her platform is "Food for thought -- curing local hunger." She plans to obtain a doctorate in dietetics or nursing and earn a bachelor's degree in Spanish. She will sing "At Last."

  • Katie Camp, of Newark, is a senior studying organizational leadership at Wright State University. Her platform is "Choose children: Volunteer." She plans to open a dance studio. She will tap dance to "Big Time."

    Miss Mansfield Outstanding Teen contestants are:

  • Kirsten Fennig, a junior at Celina High School.

  • Amanda Sabourin, a junior at Ontario High School.

  • Chelsi Howman, a junior at Crestview High School.

  • Courtney Fraley, a junior at Ontario High School.

  • Alexandra Bernowski, an eighth grader at Canal Winchester.

    Little Miss Snowflake contestants are: Alexis Uplinger, Aricia Uplinger, Bree Fellows, Cady Watkins, Emily Carney, Isabella Willacker, Madison Drake, Sofie Swartzmiller, Teaira Ross, and Trinity Baker.

    lwhitmire@nncogannett.com 419-521-7223

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