Caduceus Newsletter: Fall 2002.13, Week of November 18

è 1. "And a good time was had by all." Photos from the weekend trip to the Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, November 7-9, 2002.
è 2. BUBONIC PLAGUE CASES CAUSE WORRY IN EASTERN U.S., from the November 11, 2002 issue of In the News, a daily science digest of Sigma Xi.
è 3. RESEARCHERS FIND LINK BETWEEN SICKLE-CELL PAIN, PROTEIN, from the November 11, 2002 issue of In the News, a daily science digest of Sigma Xi.
è 4. YOU MAKE THE CALL, featuring Dr. Peter Gott's Health column, appearing in the Memphis Commercial Appeal #3 - the case of the chronically late person.
è 5. Summer Research - Gateways to the Laboratory Program, sponsored by the Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program in New York City
è 6. A survey question to Caduceus Newsletter readers, from its editor, Dr. Stan Eisen.
è 7. The deadline for entering the FIRST-EVER Organic Chemistry Haiku Contest is WEDNESDAY, November 20.(!)

è 1. "And a good time was had by all." Photos from the weekend trip to the Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, November 7-9, 2002. 

From November 7 through November 9, the students in Brother Edward Salgado's Ecology and Dr. Stan Eisen's Invertebrate Zoology classes participated in the annual trip to the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Mississippi to conduct a survey of the biota in Biloxi Bay and the Mississippi Sound. These photographs were taken during the morning of Friday, November 8, with Dr. Eisen's crew on board the Hermes.

The crew -- (l-r) April Deslattes, Katie Fields (behind the post), Ashley Frith, Seyedeh Kelishadi, TJ Kueter, Lachre Brown, Janet Eichholz, Jenny Wells, Dr. Stan Eisen, Jennifer Hoskinson, Hong ?, Andrew Asbury, Robert Appling, Nina Addison. (Not appearing in photo - Dewonia King, Adam Rubrum, Mai Tran)

More crew -- (l-r) Mai Tran, Nina Addison, Sayedeh Kelishadi, Lachre Brown, Jennifer Hoskinson, TJ Kueter.

Dewonia King, Andrew Asbury, Sayedeh Kelishadi, Lachre Brown, Adam Rubrum.

Wasn't it Crocodile Dundee who said, "You call THAT a plankton net? THIS is a plankton net!"

Yup, that stinger on the back will hurt'cha!

TJ Kueter, Jennifer Hoskinson, and a puffer fish.

Dr. Eisen smearing on the latest in beauty aids -- Biloxi Bay Bodacious Beauty Balm.

Circumstantial evidence that Dr. Louis Pasteur was mistaken when he said that there is NO SUCH THING as spontaneous generation. These gulls appeared from NOWHERE! (Or so it seemed -- these gulls are not stupid. They have learned that college students on a fishing boat from the Gulf Coast Research Lab = LUNCHTIME!)

è 2. BUBONIC PLAGUE CASES CAUSE WORRY IN EASTERN U.S., from the November 11, 2002 issue of In the News, a daily science digest of Sigma Xi. 

from The Associated Press

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - When a pair of tourists in New York fell ill with bubonic plague - a naturally occurring though rare disease - reaction in the East was swift and scared.

Fox News Channel ran an on-screen headline that blared "Black Death," while The New York Times ran a subhead on its story declaring: "A disease that ravaged medieval Europe reappears."

The national exposure worried New Mexico tourism officials, said Paul Ettestad, state public health veterinarian.

The state Health Department was flooded with calls from East Coast journalists - more than 25 calls since the news broke Wednesday about the Santa Fe couple, who remained hospitalized Friday in New York.

The media "seemed really surprised that the plague actually existed," state Health Department spokesman Eddie Binder said. <http://www.nandotimes.com/healthscience/story/612796p-4724806c.html> 

è 3. RESEARCHERS FIND LINK BETWEEN SICKLE-CELL PAIN, PROTEIN, from the November 11, 2002 issue of In the News, a daily science digest of Sigma Xi. 

from The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Researchers have found a link between the release from malformed red blood cells of the vital protein that carries oxygen, and episodes of severe pain in people with sickle cell disease.

The discovery is leading to clinical trials to test a new treatment - whether breathing nitric oxide, an important chemical that helps regulate blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, can help sickle cell patients with their pain, said National Institute of Health researcher Dr. Mark T. Gladwin.

The disease, in which blood cells form in an abnormal crescent shape, affects an estimated 70,000 Americans. It has no cure, though treatment can ease the periodic episodes of severe pain. The inherited condition can cause bouts of severe pain, particularly in joints and limbs, and can damage the lungs, kidneys and other vital organs.

Nitric oxide is removed from the blood plasma by hemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen around the body, and that results in constricted blood vessels, reduced blood flow and the accompanying pain, according to a team of researchers led by Gladwin.
<http://www.nandotimes.com/healthscience/story/614631p-4732448c.html>

è 4. YOU MAKE THE CALL, featuring Dr. Peter Gott's Health column, appearing in the Memphis Commercial Appeal #3 - the case of the chronically late person.

Here is Dr. Gott's reply:

While some forms of chronic lateness may be associated with emotional disorders and mental disease, most cases have rather mundane causes, such as disorganization, ineffectual timing, a basic wish to be absent from the responsibility and a desire to be in charge of the situations to which one is late.

In my opinion, your diagnosis is less important than your behavior. Nonetheless, you might profit from some psychological counseling. While you're waiting for the appointment, try the following.

Reprogram your mind to be an "ahead-of-time person." No longer consider the putdown that you are chronically late; this is past history, interesting but out of the question. Make a conscious effort to arrive at least 30 minutes - or better, an hour - before your commitment. Make sure you have your keys (and whatever else you need) long in advance of your meeting. In addition, the car should be gassed up, the route to your destination perfectly clear, your clothing at the ready. Keep lists so you don't forget anything. Take along a book or magazine to entertain yourself if you have to wait at your destination. In short, move everything ahead. Most important, revel in the wonderful feeling that you will probably arrive early!

Once you get hooked on this - and, believe me, punctuality is addictive - your stress level will fall, your life will simplify and you will regard yourself in a whole new, positive light.

This technique works. I once had a patient who was chronically ABSENT from appointments; she wasn't just late - she'd get there after everything was over. Her life was a shambles, and she couldn't hold a job. I told her to reset her clock. If her appointment were at 11 a.m., she should get there at 9 a.m. Or, if she were really worried, she should leave the house in time to get there at 8 a.m. Did she run into traffic snarls, school-bus stoppings, construction? You bet. But she had a cushion of time - and it worked. . Once she discovered she could arrive early, it was only a simple alteration to redefine her to arrive on time. She was amazed and delighted; her life changed. She is now a successful businesswoman known (and respected) for her punctuality.

All it takes is a change of attitude - and some advanced planning. You ARE a winner, you CAN meet your responsibilities on time, you MUST initially arrive early - maybe two or three hours early - to meet your obligations. Do it. And obtain psychological assistance if appropriate. (For example, some chronically late people are emotionally unable to cope with being on time or with the planning to achieve punctuality. They need additional therapy.

(Ed. Note: In other words, if you're chronically late, TRY SHOWING UP EARLY!!) Brilliant, huh? 

è 5. Summer Research - Gateways to the Laboratory Program, sponsored by the Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program in New York City

I would once again like to bring your attention to the Gateways to the Laboratory Program, sponsored by the Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering
Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program in New York City. This ten week program allows freshman and sophomore underrepresented minority students to experience life as a
MD-PhD student.

While conducting their independent research projects, the Gateways students participate in a number of clinical activities including rounding
with the Department of Medicine at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and an anatomy lab. In addition, the Gateways students participate in a weekly journal club,
mock MCAT exam and mock MD-PhD interview, lab techniques workshop, clinical skills workshop, as well as numerous educational, social and cultural activities, such as a trip to see the New York Yankees and the Apollo Theatre.

Gateways students are invited as our guests to The Leadership Alliance Symposium <http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/index.htm> held every July.
At the end of the summer, the Gateways students give oral, written and poster presentation of their research.
Last year, we were able to raise funds to pay for travel and lodging expenses so that each Gateways student could have at least one family member come to New York City in order to attend the final presentations.

The Gateways to the Laboratory Program awards a stipend of $3900 and reimburses the students for their travel expenses. On campus housing is available.

The Gateways to the Laboratory Program started in 1993 as the first summer program to be run by a MD-PhD Program. A number of our alumni are now students at some of the top MD-PhD Programs across the country. The NIH expressed an interest in using the Gateways Program as a model for other institutions. A copy of the Gateways Program presentation which was given at the NIH can be viewed at:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/dbdrmin/slds/gate/1_1.htm

The application is available on line at:
http://www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd/summer.html

Or the students may receive a copy by calling our office at 1-888-U2-MD-PHD
or via email at "mdphd@med.cornell.edu". If you would like to receive a number of our brochures and applications, please feel free to contact me
and I will be sure to have them forwarded to you.

The application deadline is February 1st.

Please inform your students of this wonderful opportunity.
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
As of November 22nd, I will be on maternity leave. I will be checking my email while on leave, but not on a daily basis. For an urgent response, please email Ms. Renee Horton at <mdphd@med.cornell.edu>. That email is checked daily.

Sincerely,
Ruth Gotian

Ruth Gotian, M.S.
Program Manager

Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering
Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program
1300 York Avenue, Room D-115
New York, NY 10021-4896

phone: 212-746-6023 or toll free: 1-888-U2-MD-PHD
fax: 212-746-8678
www.med.cornell.edu/mdphd

è 6. A survey question to Caduceus Newsletter readers, from its editor, Dr. Stan Eisen. 

OK, here's the question:

Is it reasonable or unreasonable to expect a group of college students, who are participating in a 72-hour long field trip, to survive those 72 hours without alcohol, drugs, sex, or television? 

Please e-mail your response to me, at seisen@cbu.edu .

Thank you.

è 7. The deadline for entering the FIRST-EVER Organic Chemistry Haiku Contest is WEDNESDAY, November 20.(!)  

You wouldn't want to miss this opportunity, would you? Please send your entries to seisen@cbu.edu , and I'll will distribute them to our qualified panel of judges.