WSU/DMC PATHOLOGY PROGRAM ONE OF TOP 3 IN THE COUNTRY
At the recent United States Canadian Academy of Pathology meeting in Atlanta, the Department of Pathology was well represented. Members of the department presented a total of 26 abstracts, making WSU and the Detroit Medical Center one of the top 10 institutions in the country. Of the presentations, 13 were primarily the work of residents and fellows. This level of participation was acknowledged by the academy as placing WSU/DMC in top three programs nationally.

DR. HARBUT URGES TOUGHER RESTRICTIONS ON ARSENIC IN DRINKING WATER 
Congressman David Bonior (D-Mt. Clemens) held a press conference in March to announce proposed federal legislation to reduce the allowable limits for arsenic in drinking water. Participating in the press conference was Michael Harbut, MD, MPH, assistant professor of internal medicine and medical director for the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, who argues that arsenic should be considered an independent factor for the development of many diseases, much like cholesterol is considered a risk factor for heart disease. Arsenic poses a great health hazard in Michigan where as many as 367,000 residents may already be exposed to dangerous levels of arsenic in drinking water. “The data is compelling. Lives will be saved if urinary arsenic is monitored and lowered in the same way that cholesterol and blood pressure are monitored and lowered, but at a far reduced cost and much less interventionally,” Dr. Harbut said. “We will reduce sickness and death from heart attack, stroke, lung disease and cancer quickly and dramatically if we lower the national body burden of arsenic.”

PBS FEATURES ADELI SUIT ON “DISABILITIES TODAY”
The Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) and Wayne State University’s research on the adult Adeli suit was featured on a program called “Disabilities Today,” airing on PBS, Channel 56. Researchers in RIM’s Gait and Motion Analysis Laboratory and Wayne State University’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, are currently evaluating the Adeli suit for its potential to increase the functionality of persons with disabilities. The Russian space program initially developed the Adeli suit for cosmonauts to wear on the space station MIR, according to Nancy McNevin, PhD, director of RIM’s gait lab. The suit’s elastic cords provide axial loads to mimic the effects of gravity on bones during space flight. “When a patient wears the suit, the cords passively assist the body,” Dr. McNevin said. “Right now, the study will examine what happens to a patient’s balance when standing. The research team is trying to find out why the suit works and to determine which patient populations it can benefit.” Potentially, the suit could help patients with lower limb spasicity, stroke conditions, and cerebral palsy.

WSU HOSTS MICHIGAN BRANCH OF AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY 
The WSU Department of Immunology and Microbiology hosted the spring 2001 meeting of the Michigan branch of the American Society for Microbiology (MIASM). The meeting topic was “Vaccines for the New Millenium” and featured talks by three internationally recognized vaccine scientists, including Professor Roy Sundick from WSU, who spoke on DNA Vaccines and Aquatics. Dr. John Clements from Tulane University spoke on edible vaccines, and Dr. Paul Coussens from Michigan State University spoke about immunity to mycobacteria. The WSU organizing group was led by MI-ASM Treasurer, Dr. Judith Whittum- Hudson (internal medicine, immunology and microbiology and ophthalmology), with active participation by faculty and graduate students in immunology and microbiology. A workshop on Intracellular Cytokine Staining was offered to participants in the Flow Cytometry Facility directed by Dr. Stephen Lerman and managed by Eric Van Buren. Dr. Michael Long introduced the workshop attendees to the power of flow cytometry. The speakers’ presentations were videoconferenced with the Upper Peninsula segment of MI-ASM at Michigan Technological University. Further information on the MI-ASM is available at mi-asm.org.  

DIABETES DAY 2001 IS HUGE SUCCESS
More than 345 people gathered to hear several diabetes speakers on Diabetes Day 2001. Participants also took advantage of free health screening tests and exhibits of diabetes-related products and services. This year’s event was hosted by the American Diabetes Association, the Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University. Nurses from several DMC hospitals assisted with blood pressure and kidney screening, dietitians and pharmacists provided counseling, and a respiratory therapist was on hand with information about smoking cessation programs. Physicians spoke on topics related to heart, kidney and eye disease, nerve damage, exercise, and the future of diabetes care. In addition, Dr. George Grunberger was presented with an award in recogni- tion of his years of dedication to the health and well-being of people with diabetes. Dr. Grunberger has spearheaded the Diabetes Day community event for the past 14 years.

NEW PROGRAMS LAUNCHED FOR ANGER MANAGEMENT, ADDICTIONS University Psychiatric Centers (UPC) has launched two new programs to its clinical services. The Conflict/Anger Management Program and the Learning Enhancement Addictions Program (LEAP) were created by UPC clinician John Vetrano as a way to fill needs he saw reflected in the community. “We seem to have a need for an anger management group. We get a number of calls from employee assistance programs, employers, supervisors and other community resources asking for this service,” Vetrano said. He believes the programs stand out because of the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. “For LEAP, we focus on abstinencebased treatment, but we also use a cognitive behavioral therapy approach and really emphasize that the individuals focus on changing their thoughts, feelings and behaviors as part of the lifestyle changing process. In the cognitive management group, we also teach a cognitive behavioral approach to understanding feelings of anger, connecting it to thinking and then to behaviors,” he said.

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