October 8 - 15, 1999

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October 8 - 15, 1999

A weekly guide to news and features from UAB Media Relations.

For more information on these stories or any others, please call the UAB Office of Media Relations at (800) UAB-9091 or (205) 934-3884.

Counselors Needed to Curb Violence

In the wake of the recent school shootings, educators are beefing up security and revising dress codes. The FBI will issue reports this fall and early next year on identifying potentially violent teens and strategies for school security. But school counseling expert Larry Tyson, Ph.D., says there should also be a call for more school counselors. “Kids spend about eight hours a day in school and the counselor is in a unique position to address kids who are loners or troubled. Counselors can develop programs that help troubled teens feel connected, capable and a contributing member of the school. The counselor-student ratio should be at least 1-to-250, but it is as high as 1-to-800 at some schools.” Call Tyson at 205-975-2491 or tyson@uab.edu.

The Art of Outdoor Sculpture

What makes a good outdoor sculpture? Janice Kluge, MFA, UAB associate professor of art, says it is usually a combination of elements that make a sculpture pleasing. “While many people just look at the form or color of a sculpture, they should also take into account how the work is mounted, what it is surrounded by and does it utilize the surrounding elements.” In an upcoming installation of a biodegradable work on the campus of UAB, students will help create a sculpture with artist Steven Seigel from New York. According to Kluge, assisting an established artist is critical for students because they get a better understanding of the creative process and how outdoor sculpture can work with its environment. Call Kluge at 205-934-8566 or kluge@uab.edu.

Safer Emergency Heart Diagnosis

Emergency Department quandary: Patients arrive with chest pain and shortness of breath but initial blood tests and an electrocardiogram do not confirm a heart attack. At UAB, the safe, cost-effective solution is to look at blood flow in the coronary muscle by imaging a safe, fast and noninvasive radioactive tracer called sestamibi. “Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can detect blood-vessel obstruction at an early stage and identify high-risk patients with unstable angina,” says cardiologist John Canto, M.D., M.P.H. “MPI lets us identify patients at intermediate risk and also provides additional critical diagnostic information.” Contact Tracy Bischoff, Media Relations, (205) 934-8935 or tracy@uab.edu.

Book Details Union’s Stand on Equality

Alabama history, even during years of segregation, can’t always be viewed in black and white. That’s the conclusion of a new book of essays, “It Is Union and Liberty: Alabama Coal Miners and the UMW,” edited by Edwin Brown, Ph.D., associate professor at the UAB Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR), and UAB historian Colin J. Davis, Ph.D. The book portrays the turn-of-the-century United Mineworkers Union as breaking ranks with the social order. “True, the UMW did not push for social equality, but on the critical issue of equal pay the union maintained that there should be no disparity between the races.” Call Brown at 205-934-2101 or edlbrown@uab.edu. Call Davis at 205-934-5634 or cjdavis@uab.edu.

Game Meats a Shot at Good Nutrition

Hunting for nutritionally sound but adventurous dinner fare? As hunting season gets underway, UAB registered dietitian Kathy Hubbert says game meats might fit the bill. Many are lower in fat and calories than farm-raised meats. “It makes sense that game animals are leaner than domestic livestock. They are more active, giving them more muscle and less fat.” Deer meat has typically one-third the fat of domestic beef and about 25 percent fewer calories. Game meats are showing up more frequently in restaurants, gourmet food stores and even mail order catalogs. Contact Bob Shepard, Media Relations, (205) 934-8934 or bshep@uab.edu.

New, Easier Syphilis Treatment

Findings of a UAB study show the oral antibiotic azithromycin is an effective alternative to injections of penicillin in preventing syphilis in people recently exposed to the disease. The new treatment will play a role in a plan recently announced by the CDC to eliminate syphilis in the United States. "The drug is widely prescribed to treat other infections and is well-tolerated," says Edward Hook, M.D., lead investigator for the study. "And aside from being easier to administer than a shot, azithromycin may be given to people who are allergic to penicillin." The CDC's syphilis elimination plan will focus on prevention. "The CDC will provide communities with grants to help educate people about syphilis and preventative treatments." Contact Joy Carter, Media Relations, (205) 934-1676 or mjcarter@uab.edu.