Story Ideas for Media 5/4/09
Experts
Ohio State expert can talk about swine flu. An Ohio State University animal health expert with Ohio State’s Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center is available to comment on the swine flu outbreak.
The center’s Food Animal Health Research Program is the only Ohio State lab working on swine flu, said Mo Saif, head of the program and assistant dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The program’s interest mainly lies in the transmission of influenza viruses between different species including poultry and swine.
“When we have a flu problem in turkeys, most of the time it can be traced to swine,” Saif said. “Swine are known as the mixing vessel of influenza viruses.” CONTACT: Mo Saif, saif.1@osu.edu or (330) 263-3743.
How did swine flu reach the U.S.? Daniel Janies, professor of biomedical informatics, builds evolutionary trees, tracks the movement of the flu and its properties such as drug resistance, and predicts where and how it moves next.
Janies currently tracks the spread of infectious diseases based upon genetic and geographic data derived from animal and human viruses and their hosts. His results have been widely reported in the media and he was recently called to testify to the United States Senate on “Forestalling the Coming Pandemic: Infectious Disease Surveillance Overseas.” CONTACT: Daniel Janies, (614) 804-0132 (cell) or (614) 292-1202 (office) SEE: http://bmi.osu.edu/people_detail.php?id=171
Research
Athletes with asthma need more help from their team trainers. Very few athletic trainers associated with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) programs said that they were following best practice standards for managing asthma among their athletes, according to a new study.
For athletes with asthma, the dangers of the condition can be as mild as impacting athletic performance or so severe to be incapacitating, or deadly. The lead report is published in the American College of Sports Medicine’s journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
“We wanted to see how well asthma is being managed in athletes competing at the NCAA level,” says Jonathan Parsons, clinical assistant professor of internal medicine at Ohio State University. “Evidence has shown that outcomes are better when an athlete has an asthma attack and the proper help is available.” CONTACT: Sherri L. Kirk, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737. SEE: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/asthmajocks.htm
Events
Student-athletes perform in ‘Buckeyes Got Talent’ show – May 6. Ohio State’s student-athletes will reveal their hidden talents in the 3rd annual ‘Buckeyes Got Talent,’ show, is here once again. The floor of St. John Arena will be transformed into show-stopping, fun-filled stage at 7 p.m. Wednesday (5/6) at St. John Arena. Twelve teams are signed up for the Buckeyes’ most anticipated community service event of the season. Teams include the men’s cross country team – reigning ‘Buckeyes Got Talent’ champions – the wrestling team which won the inaugural title in 2007, representatives from the cheerleading, football, women’s gymnastics, men’s and women’s lacrosse, rifle, men’s soccer, synchronized swimming and men’s and women’s track and field. General admission tickets for the event can be purchased at the door for $5. Ohio State student tickets are $3 and children ages 6 and under are free. All proceeds will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus. In its two years, the show has raised more than $2,600. SEE: http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=3674459
It’s May Week at Ohio State – through May 10. Taking place all week at Ohio State, May Week serves to facilitate a spirit of camaraderie between past and present Buckeyes while celebrating the end of another school year and the onset of spring. The celebration provides a variety of development, service and entertainment opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Columbus community. Events include free food at the Wexner Center Plaza at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (5/5) and a picnic at 4:30 p.m. on Friday (5/7) on the South Oval. SEE:
