Wednesday, November 13, 1996Pediatric cardiologist’s work
recognized
Thomas Klitzner, Ph.D., chief of pediatric cardiology at UCLA
Children’s Hospital, was awarded the 1996 Award for Excellence in
Pediatric Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics at its
annual meeting in October.
Klitzner was recognized for his pioneering research on calcium
channels, which are found in the membranes that line heart muscle
cells and affect the speed and pressure at which the heart pumps
blood. His work specifically focuses on how calcium channels in a
newborn’s heart work differently from those in more mature
hearts.
The findings have a direct clinical application. They may
explain, in part, how the use of calcium channel-blockers may
damage the hearts of newborns while they help adults. This work
also has important implications for the development of
pharmacologic agents to treat heart failure in young children.
Klitzner is professor of pediatrics at the UCLA School of
Medicine and is medical director of clinical cardiac
electrophysiology at UCLA Medical Center.
UC Berkeley scientists develop test for influenza virus
As the annual flu season kicks into high gear, a pair of UC
Berkeley scientists have discovered a way to avoid a lengthy visit
to the doctor’s office and possibly even diagnose the influenza
virus at home.
Deborah Charych and Jon Nagy, scientists at the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, collaborated to develop a sensitive
film which changes color if a person is infected with the influenza
virus.
The common flu results in cold-like symptoms such as runny nose,
cough and sore throat. According to Charych, the early detection of
the flu is important because outbreaks of influenza usually occurs
in clusters. The new breakthrough would allow someone to diagnose
themselves quickly and possibly prevent the spread of the flu. The
virus can also be life-threatening to elderly people or those with
a weakened immune system.
Therefore, quick detection of the flu can be crucial to saving
lives.
"For us, this was a big, important discovery because now it
makes the detection very simple," said Charych.
The researchers believe the new film is a very powerful
investigative tool because the simple color change allows detection
to be conducted almost instantaneously with the naked eye, instead
of using complex scientific instruments.
Binge drinking
increases on campuses
In an effort to attack binge drinking and the consumption of
alcohol by college students, the American Medical Association has
launched a seven-year program to change the attitudes, policies and
practices affecting drinking both on and off campus.
Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in Princeton, N.J.,
the $8.6 million public health program will join forces with six
universities across the nation where binge drinking was determined
to be on the rise.
Nearly half of all college students are binge drinkers,
according to a national survey of 17,592 students at 140 colleges.
The Harvard University survey showed that binge drinking on
campuses  defined as five or more drinks in a row for men and
four drinks or more for women  has reached its highest level
in more than two decades.
Each year college students drink an estimated 4 billion cans of
beer. That equates to 430 million gallons, enough for every
university in the United States to fill an Olympic-sized pool.
College students spend $5.5 billion on alcohol a year, mostly on
beer.
As many as 360,000 of the nation’s 12 million undergraduates
will die from alcohol-related causes while in school. This is more
than the number who will get masters and doctorate degrees
combined.
Compiled from Daily Bruin staff and wire reports