uncnews.unc.edu

Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina people and programs cited recently in the media:

National Coverage

Gut bacteria could be key indicator of colon cancer risk (Blog)
ScienceBlog.com
The human body contains more bacteria than it does cells. These bacterial communities can have a positive effect on our health, by training our immune systems and helping to metabolize the foods we eat. But they can also set us up to develop digestive disorders, skin diseases, and obesity. Now a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine suggests that a shift in the balance between the “good” bacteria and the “bad” bacteria that populate our gut could be a harbinger of colon cancer.
UNC Release:
http://www.med.unc.edu/www/news/gut-bacteria-could-be-key-indicator-of-colon-cancer-risk

Regional Coverage

Foundation endows Eve Carson scholarship
The Athens Banner-Herald (Georgia)
The Morehead-Cain Foundation has endowed a $400,000 merit scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in honor of Eve Marie Carson, a Clarke Central High School graduate who was robbed and killed in March 2008. The four-year Eve Marie Carson Carolina Way Scholarship will pay tuition, fees, and room and board for a UNC undergraduate beginning as soon as the 2011-12 school year. The name derives from Carson's habit of referring to the "Carolina Way."
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/3687/75/

Youth soccer injuries: tracking black and blue by gender
WTOP-FM (Washington D.C.)
World Cup play is rough, but the pros haven't cornered the market on injuries. School-age soccer players suffer plenty of sprains and cracked heads. When puberty begins, injuries become more frequent and more serious. Estrogen, which makes ligaments looser, may explain why girls get more knee injuries. The size and proportion of their muscles are different from those of boys. A University of North Carolina sports medicine researcher tells The Wall Street Journal that when girls are knocked down, this causes their knees to buckle and absorb more shock.

State and Local Coverage

Project to build health database
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
A research team headed by UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State scientists wants to speed up sharing of the medical data routinely collected by doctors, veterinarians and other health providers across the state. Doing so could even stop a terror attack, the researchers say. ...The project could detect a bioterror attack - such as a poisoned water or food supply - early enough to minimize casualties. It would also have more routine applications. Vets could use it to better estimate the start of tick season, and doctors could use it to predict heart attacks by looking at a broad array of common symptoms, said Charles Cairns, chairman of UNC's department of emergency medicine, who is leading the project with NCSU's Hoit.
Related Links:
http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/06/21/daily7.html
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/campusnotes/uncncsu-project-to-speed-
up-data-analysis-fight-terrorism
http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/8006452/article-UNC-system-
leads-bioterrorism-response?
UNC Release:
http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/3716/1/

Babies of people with schizophrenia have abnormal brain structures
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
In what could be a clue about the origins of schizophrenia, researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have identified abnormalities in the brains of babies born to schizophrenic patients. Children of people with schizophrenia are at significantly higher risk of developing the severe mental illness, so brain abnormalities early in life may be an indication of problems later. The scientists said they plan to track the youngsters as the grow to see if the different brain structures correlate to disease development.
UNC Release:
http://www.unchealthcare.org/site/newsroom/news/2010/June/
schizophrenia-signs-in-babies-brains

Lineberger Center adds two executives
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center has appointed two new associate directors to lead and develop strategic priorities as the center expands clinical programs in the new N.C. Cancer Hospital and research initiatives among its 300 faculty members. Lisa Carey has been named associate director for clinical science, and Ned Sharpless has been named associate director for translational research for the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.
UNC Release:
http://www.med.unc.edu/www/news/lisa-carey-and-ned-sharpless-named-
associate-directors-for-unc-lineberger-comprehensive-cancer-center

The recovery can use a push (Opinion-Editorial Column)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
...The wisdom demonstrated by that physician in my father's case is quite relevant to us today in thinking about the condition of the American economy. In this election year the drumbeat all over the country is getting louder and louder for our policymakers to do something now about the huge and growing federal deficit. And pols from both major parties are doing the drumming. (Peter A. Coclanis is Albert R. Newsome distinguished professor of history and director of the Global Research Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill.)

Second report released on working conditions at Pender Health Department
The Star News (Wilmington)
A second report stemming from employee complaints at Pender County's health department was released Monday as outside officials prepare to start a broad review of the agency. ...The UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health at Chapel Hill is charged with investigating a variety of issues. These include whether department employees who complain face retaliation, whether a nurse handled immunization needles correctly, whether medical charts were updated according to procedures and whether a former employee abused drugs.

Rescuers get keys to town
The Herald-Sun (Durham)
The two brothers who last month thwarted the kidnapping of a UNC student as she jogged downtown were honored Monday with warm accolades, sincere thanks and the keys to the town. Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said Joey Shelton's and Freddie Shelton's heroism helped the town begin a much-needed healing process in the wake of high-profile incidents of violence, the most notable being the murder of Eve Carson in 2008. "I think you have helped us heal in ways we didn't know we needed to," Kleinschmidt said.
Related Links:
http://wchl1360.com/detailswide.html?id=14950
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7510516

Issues and Trends

Plan for maintenance (Editorial)
The News & Record (Greensboro)
It makes no sense to spend millions for new facilities on University of North Carolina campuses while setting no money aside for maintenance and operations. The idea of new buildings sitting unused for lack of funds to open them should boil taxpayers' blood. So UNC leaders are right to implore legislators to provide a few million dollars to operate the new facilities expected to come on line in the next year. The House budget does contain $12 million, but the Senate version includes nothing -- a glaring oversight.
Related Link:
http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/06/21/article/
uncg_needs_funds_to_open_new_building

Harvard’s Former Quarterback Priore Now Faces SEC Fraud Suit
Bloomberg News
...Now, federal regulators allege that (Thomas) Priore and his firm have defrauded investors since 2007. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said in a lawsuit filed Monday that Priore and New York-based ICP “improperly obtained tens of millions of dollars in fees and undisclosed profits at the expense of clients and investors” by inflating bond prices, making unauthorized trades and self-dealing. ... Investors included Wilton, Connecticut-based Commonfund, a money manager for colleges and nonprofit organizations, and the University of North Carolina’s endowment. Jonathon C. King, president and CEO of UNC Management Co., said in a statement Monday that the endowment filed a suit in the Cayman Islands in March, seeking to involuntarily wind-up the fund and freeze its assets.

UNC Theologian and Professor Warren Nord
WCHL 1360-AM (Chapel Hill)
Warren Nord, founding director of the UNC Program in the Humanities and Human Values, passed away recently. ...Nord was an Army veteran and graduate of the University of Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1967. He subsequently undertook doctoral studies at UNC, emerging with his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1978. Shortly after receiving his doctorate, Nord began his tenure as founding director of the Program in the Humanities and Human Values, holding that post until 2004. Following his retirement, Nord continued to teach as a lecturer emeritus at UNC in the Department of Philosophy.

Funny money (Editorial)
The News & Observer (Raleigh)
It's not hard to imagine that even while Rusty Carter was signing his affidavit describing $330,000 in illegal campaign contributions, the expression that played across his face was a smirk. Carter, the Wilmington businessman who spread money around like mayonnaise on a tomato sandwich, didn't exactly get off scot-free for his defiance of the law. But under the plea bargain he wangled in a state court last month, his punishment was scarcely cruel and unusual: a $5,000 fine and a two-year ban on further contributions.