Story Ideas for Media 12-5-05
News
OSU study looks at new patient cooling machine – In an effort to minimize damage to the brain after cardiac arrest, researchers at The Ohio State University Medical Center are studying a machine that carefully reduces body temperature to determine if it cools the patient faster than traditional ice and cooling blankets.
The device being evaluated in the multicenter clinical trial controls, monitors, and precisely maintains core body temperature in a therapeutic range, between approximately 90 and 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dr. Michael Sayre, an emergency physician and principal investigator at the OSU Medical Center, says that when a person's heart stops beating during cardiac arrest, the brain begins to die in roughly four minutes. "By cooling the brain, we can slow metabolism, thus slowing down or stopping brain damage commonly seen following cardiac arrest," he said. CONTACT: Sherri L. Kirk, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737, or Sherri.Kirk@osumc.edu
Ohio State shares nearly $3 million to study evolution of marine life – Sea creatures such as jellyfish and corals may offer evidence of how the entire animal kingdom evolved.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $2.85 million to scientists at Ohio State University and six other institutions to spend the next five years studying the evolution of Cnidaria, a division of the animal kingdom that includes jellyfish, sea anemones and corals.
Meg Daly, an assistant professor of evolution, ecology and organismal biology and an expert on sea anemones, and Dan Janies, an assistant professor of biomedical informatics, will lead Ohio State's research efforts. CONTACT: Meg Daly, (614) 247-8412; Daly.66@osu.edu
Research
Obesity before pregnancy linked to childhood weight problems – A child's weight may be influenced by its mother even before he is actually born, according to new research.
Results of the study, which included more than 3,000 children, suggest that a child is far more likely to be overweight at a very young age – at 2 or 3 years old – if its mother was overweight or obese before she became pregnant. A child is also at greater risk of becoming overweight if he is born to a Black or Hispanic mother, or to a mother who smoked during her pregnancy.
Pamela Salsberry, the study's lead author and an associate professor of nursing at Ohio State, says there's a good chance that an overweight child will stay overweight for the rest of his or her life.
"Weight persists with time, so a child who is overweight by its second birthday is more likely to be overweight at a later age," says Salsberry. "Prevention of childhood obesity needs to begin before a woman ever gets pregnant."
Salsberry conducted the study with Patricia Reagan, a professor of economics at Ohio State. Their study appears in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics. CONTACT: Pamela Salsberry, (614) 292-4907; Salsberry.1@osu.edu. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/babyfat.htm
Events
Ohio State Airport Advisory Committees to Meet – Dec. 8. The Ohio State Airport Advisory Board and the Ohio State Airport Noise Advisory Committee, two newly appointed groups representing nearby communities, airport users and airport staff, will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday (12/8) at the Ohio State Aeronautical and Astronautical Research Laboratory, 2300 W. Case Road. The primary purpose of this initial joint meeting will be to inform the two groups about the airport facility and operations, and provide an update on the status of activities related to the establishment of an effective airport noise complaint system and airport development. The purpose, goals and organization of the two groups will be discussed. CONTACT: Cathy Ferrari, (614) 292-5823.
Commencement is this Sunday – Dec. 11. Approximately 2,000 degrees will be awarded during Ohio State's autumn quarter commencement ceremony, which begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday (12/11) at St. John Arena, 410 Woody Hayes Dr. Deborah A. Ballam, associate provost for Women's Policy Initiatives and director of The Women's Place at Ohio State, will deliver the commencement address. Honorary doctorates will be presented to Dr. Judah Folkman, a Columbus native and renowned medical researcher; and Jerome Friedman, Nobel laureate and professor of physics emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Distinguished Service Award will be presented posthumously to Michael E. Moritz, a dual graduate of Ohio State and the man for whom Ohio State's College of Law was named, who died tragically in 2002; and Lou Ann Moritz Ransom, an active community volunteer and a longtime advocate for the university.
In addition, the Joseph Sullivant Medal, awarded to an outstanding graduate or faculty member every five years, will be presented to L.S. Fan, Distinguished University Professor and C. John Easton Professor of Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. CONTACT: Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385.
The person listed as the CONTACT will have the most current information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story: Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276, or cook.17@osu.edu, Shelly Hoffman, (614) 247-4748 or hoffman.511@osu.edu, or Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, murray-goedde.1@osu.edu
