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March 10, 2004
Carolina in the News
Here is a sampling of links and notes about Carolina
people and programs cited recently in the media:
International Coverage
Two-for-one pill treats smoking, obesity
United Press International (wire service)
An experimental drug just completing a final round of international studies is the first pill to effectively treat the biggest heart disease risk factors, researchers said Tuesday...."At a time when 50 million people in the United States may be affected by metabolic syndrome, this is very good news," said Dr. Sidney C. Smith Jr., professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina and director of its Center for Cardiovascular Science and Medicine.
National Coverage
Experimental Drug Helps People Lose Weight, Quit Smoking
The Wall Street Journal
It sounds too good to be true. A drug developed from research into how marijuana affects the brain shows remarkable promise as a potential magic bullet against many of the major risks for heart disease....Sidney Smith, director of the center for cardiovascular science and medicine at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said the drug could be "a very helpful development" against metabolic syndrome. But he added that "it would be a mistake for us to neglect lifestyle changes and just change to a pill."
Subscription required.
One pill a day could keep food and nicotine cravings away
USA Today
Researchers took aim Tuesday at two of the world's leading killers by unveiling a single pill that suppresses the powerful cravings that drive people to overeat and smoke...."This is very good news at a time when 50 million Americans are estimated to have metabolic syndrome," said Sidney Smith, a cardiologist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
New Pill Helps With Smoking and Weight
National Associated Press
A new pill in the final stages of testing shows promise in attacking two of humanity's biggest killers by helping people quit smoking and lose weight at the same time...."This is good news. The drug shows promise," said Dr. Sidney Smith, cardiovascular chief at the University of North Carolina. "However, I strongly believe lifestyle changes should be the foundation of what we do. I would not want to see patients turn to a pill as the first approach."
State & Local Coverage
UNC receives $1M for center
Triangle Business Journal
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration's Bureau of Health Professions has awarded the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill a cooperative agreement to become the Southeast Regional Center for Health Workforce Studies.
UNC News release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/mar04/ricketts030904.html
Young, old fuel N.C. growth
The News & Observer
The young and old alike flocked to North Carolina in the past three years, according to new census estimates that highlight stresses the state could face in the years ahead....The simultaneous increase in the number of children and retirees brings new demands on public schools and health care, said a demographer at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Open athletic facilities help schools, study finds (Question and Answer)
The News & Observer
Kelly R. Evenson, a UNC-Chapel Hill research assistant professor, and Aileen P. McGinn, a UNC-CH doctoral student, co-wrote a study in the current issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion on public availability of physical athletic facilities at public and private schools.
UNC News release: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/feb04/evenson022504.html
What about NC dems?
Outer Banks Sentinel
It's official (for the most part): Sen. John Kerry has sealed up the Democratic nomination for president of the United States....George Rabinowitz is a professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He said North Carolina Democrats might feel disenfranchised about the process, but he said it would be difficult to alter it.
Driving, cell phone legislation to return
The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C.
A lot of drivers say they talk on handheld cell phones while cruising down the highway, but few will admit to a police officer that they were on a cell phone once they're involved in a wreck....Cell phones are responsible for about 1,457 motor vehicle crashes across the state each year, according to a study by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center.
Time for changes in town-gown plan (Editorial)
The Chapel Hill News
The ugly gashes of raw earth being exposed on the southern end of the UNC campus are a shocking reminder of what's at stake in the ongoing development of the main campus.
Group eyes ways to bring new life to historic cemetery
The Chapel Hill Herald
Stonewalls around the Old Chapel Hill Cemetery have gotten significant repairs in recent months, and a planning group will hash out ideas this spring for other improvements to the historic property along South Road...."It's a real nice group of people," said Kirk Pelland, UNC's grounds director who is working with the group
Project has students reversing race
The News & Observer
Seventh-grader Jenna Berasa squinted through the lens of a vintage Polaroid ProPak on Monday, her finger pausing above the shutter button....The girls were working on a photo documentary project called "Regarding Race," a joint effort among Shepard Middle, the Duke Center for Documentary Studies and the N.C. Teaching Fellows programs at N.C. Central University and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Issues and Trends
Orange County's poverty rate studied
The News & Observer
In Orange County, where the average sales price for a house was $376,446 last year, the poverty rate for individuals was 14.1 percent, the highest in the Triangle and higher than the state average.
Related links: http://www.herald-sun.com/orange/10-456748.html
NCSU trying to secure homeland grants
The News & Observer
The federal government wants an assortment of widgets to protect our borders from terrorism....NCSU is the lead institution, but it would share the money with about two dozen partners, including Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.
AlphaVax leases plant, to add jobs
The News & Observer
AlphaVax has rented 17,700 square feet about a five-minute drive from its Research Triangle Park facilities and plans to begin using the space within about a year to make small batches of medical vaccines for clinical trials.
Note: Alpha Vax is among UNC's spin-off companies.
Kucera wins $150,000 award for cancer drug research
Triad Business Journal
Kucera Pharmaceutical Co. of Winston-Salem has won a $150,000 research award to further its investigation of new cancer-fighting drugs....Kucera is a 2001 spin-off of Wake Forest University Health Sciences and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Note: If you have any questions about Carolina in the News, please call Russell Campbell at News Services, (919) 962-2091, russell_campbell@unc.edu, or Mike McFarland in University Communications, mike_mcfarland@unc.edu
Note: Web links on this page are time-sensitive, so stories might not be available after the day they first appeared.