A Sampling of Clips for February 22, 2010

* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office

Trials Show Marijuana Eases Pain
CBS News, Feb. 18 -- The first U.S. clinical trials in more than two decades on the medical benefits of marijuana confirm pot is effective in reducing muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and pain caused by certain neurological injuries or illnesses, according to a report issued Wednesday. Igor Grant, a psychiatrist who directs the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at UCSD, said five studies funded by the state involved volunteers who were randomly given real marijuana or placebos to determine if the herb provided relief not seen from traditional medicines. More

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Outrage Over 'Compton Cookout' at UCSD
MSNBC, Feb. 19 -- A weekend “ghetto-themed” party thrown by fraternity students to mock Black History Month is being condemned by UCSD administrators. More

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The Next Frontier in Athletic Doping – Genes
CNN, Feb. 19 -- Steroids are so 2008. The next way to get an edge may be gene doping. Consider "Marathon Mouse," a rodent with an artificially tweaked protein gene that made him run twice as far as normal mice. (Quotes Theodore Friedmann, a top scientist with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which conducts drug testing for the International Olympic Committee, who also is on the faculty at UCSD)More

Identical Twins Are Not Truly Identical
NPR, Feb. 18 -- How would you find out why identical twins differ slightly from one another? You'd turn, of course, to worms. Scott Rifkin at UCSD was co-author on the worm study. More

Breaking Waves
The Economist, Feb. 18 -- The Wilkins shelf may or may not have been the victim, ultimately, of climate change. Regardless of what weakened it, though, it was not rising temperatures that caused the sudden break up. Peter Bromirski of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego thinks he knows what did: a little-studied phenomenon called infragravity waves. More

Testing Curbs Some Genetic Diseases
The New York Times, Feb. 18 -- Some of mankind's most devastating inherited diseases appear to be declining, and a few have nearly disappeared, because more people are using genetic testing to decide whether to have children. (Quotes Dr. Michael Kuback, a professor at UCSD who tracks the disease) More

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Dolphin "Diabetes" Could Be Important Model for Humans
ScienceNOW, Feb. 18 —In 2007, veterinary epidemiologist Stephanie Venn-Watson of the National Marine Mammal Foundation in San Diego and veterinary pathologist Sam Ridgway of the UCSD School of Medicine, made a surprising discovery in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) owned by the U.S. Navy. After reviewing 7 years of routine blood samples from 52 dolphins, they found that the blood chemistry after fasting resembled that of people with diabetes while the blood after a meal was like that of healthy people. This allows the dolphins to maintain adequate glucose levels while eating a high-protein diet, Venn-Watson said. More

From Pond Scum to Pharmacy Shelf
Nature Medicine, Feb. 16 -- Stephen Mayfield is nearly finished unpacking in his new digs at UCSD. After more than two decades up the road at the Scripps Research Institute, Mayfield grew lonely being the sole algae biologist among a faculty not so interested in the greener side of life, so he moved to UCSD's eucalyptus-lined campus last November. Now, he finds plenty of neighbors who share his high opinion of single-celled plants. More

Toyota President Battles Crisis in Family Company
Forbes, Feb. 19 -- Toyota President Akio Toyoda, known as "the prince" in Japan, was groomed for years to head the automaker his grandfather founded.  (Quotes Ulrike Schaede, professor of Japanese Business at UCSD) More

UN Climate Chief Resigns
Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 18 -- The head of the UN body tasked with hammering out an international agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions and therefore curb their effect on Earth’s climate, is stepping down. (Quotes David Victor, a professor at UCSD’s School of International Relations) More

UCSD's Loft Brings ArtPower to the People
La Jolla Light, Feb 17 -- The hottest spot for music and mingling these days is The Loft, UCSD's sleek 150-seat performance lounge that lives up to its promo as a social crossroads where emerging art and pop culture collide. More

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