Story Ideas for Media 7-18-05

News

OSU Family Practice on South High Street adds services - The OSU Family Practice at 1405 S. High St. has added dental and optometry treatment to its primary care services. A community open house will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday (7/25) to celebrate the expansion of services, as well as the practice's anniversary. The College of Dentistry and College of Optometry have been awarded a grant from Access Health Columbus to expand services within the south side practice. The optometry clinic provides eye examinations, which include a complete medical and visual case history and a comprehensive analysis of ocular health and visual performance. The four-chair dental clinic offers a full range of dental care.
Contact: Sherri L. Kirk, Medical Center Communications, (614) 293-3737

Campus area traffic change precedes Gateway opening – In preparation for the opening later this summer of the South Campus Gateway, the city of Columbus will implement permanent traffic changes on two area streets this week. Traffic on Chittenden and East 11th Avenues will be converted to two-way traffic flow from High Street east to Grant Avenue. Drivers in the University District may encounter periodic delays or detours on those roads while street signs and signals are changed and the streets are re-striped. The conversion is expected to be completed by July 22. Contact: Amy Murray, University Relations, (614) 292-8385

Research

Asthma, allergies may reduce risk of brain cancer – Having asthma, hay fever or another allergic condition may reduce the risk of developing one fatal form of brain cancer, a new study suggests. The new evidence for the relationship is found in the normal variation of two genes, the scientists say. "Variations in certain genes may make a person more prone to develop asthma or allergies and those same variations may protect adults against the most common kind of brain cancer," said Judith Schwartzbaum, the study's lead author and an associate professor of public health at The Ohio State University. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) affects three out of 100,000 people, a rate that quadruples to 13 out of 100,000 among people age 65 and older. The average five-year survival rate from the time of diagnosis for GBM is only 3.3 percent, and is lower for people 65 and older. The study is the first to include a genetic component in addition to participant self-reports of asthma and allergy. The findings appear in the current issue of the journal "Cancer Research." See: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/canazma.htm
Contact: Judith Schwartzbaum, School of Public Health, (614) 293-3878 or jschwartzbaum@sph.osu.edu

Events

Roaring '20s celebrated during Ohio Chautauqua 2005 (July 19-23) - Historical costumes and monologues that capture the personalities of 1920s greats such as Babe Ruth and Henry Ford are highlights of Ohio Chautauqua 2005, July 19 through 23, on The Ohio State University campus. Opening night is Tuesday (7/19) and will feature the "Singing Buckeyes" barbershop quartet at 6:45 p.m. Scholar Hank Fincken will present a monologue based on the life, ideas, and writings of Henry Ford at 7:30 p.m. Performances will take place nightly under a tent located on the north lawn of the Drake Union, 1849 Cannon Drive. Ohio Chautauqua, a blend of living history and entertainment, is presented by Ohio State's Institute for Collaborative Research and Public Humanities and the Ohio Humanities Council, and is free and open to the public. For more information, see http://icrph.osu.edu/chautauqua/default.htm
Contact: Andrea Slesinski, University Relations, (614) 247-8347

Luncheon honors nurses for excellence in patient care - Twenty-four nurses from throughout central Ohio will be honored for their excellence in patient care at the 2005 Cameos of Caring Summer Awardees Luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday (7/21) at the Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Road. The event is hosted by The Ohio State University College of Nursing and the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.
Contact: Heather Carrick, College of Nursing, (614) 247-7476

Kemba Smith to Address Young Scholars – Kemba Smith, whose experience sparked a national crusade against mandatory sentences for first time non-violent drug offenders, will speak to more than 200 participants in the Ohio State Young Scholars summer academy at 7 p.m. on Tuesday (7/19) in Room 100 of McPherson Lab, 140 W. 18th Avenue. Smith served more than six years of a 24 ½ year sentence in federal prison for a non-violent drug offense until she was pardoned by President Clinton in December 2000. She will share that experience and hers as a recent graduate of Virginia Union University. The presentation is free and open to the public but space is limited.
Contact: Robert Decatur or Linda Anderson, Young Scholars Program, (614) 292-4884

Young Scholars celebrate end of 2005 Summer Academy – July 22. The Samuel DuBois Cook 2005 Summer Academy International Farewell and Academic Awards ceremony is at 8 p.m. on Friday (7/22) at the Blackwell Inn, 2110 Tuttle Park Place. The event marks the conclusion of a two-week enrichment program for the more than 200 students participating in Ohio State's Young Scholars Program (YSP). In addition to a cultural celebration, the scholars will receive awards for their achievement in language arts, criminal psychology, forensic science, engineering and political science. The best opportunity for media coverage is from 8 to 9 p.m.
Contact: Robert Decatur or Linda Anderson, Young Scholars Program, (614) 292-4884

The person listed as CONTACT will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Liz Cook, (614) 292-7276; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385.