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Arizona Daily Wildcat
The independent student voice of the University of Arizona since 1899 tuesday, april , dailywildcat.com
tucson, arizona
UA prof develops cancer vaccine Personalized human clinical trials to begin By Brenna Goth ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
Photo illustration by Alan Walsh/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Ecstasy grant funds ‘hug-drug’ study By Jazmine Woodberry ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT More than one million dollars is being allotted to UA researchers to study the long-term effects of ecstasy on users. The $1.7 million grant was awarded 18 months ago to Dr. Terrence Monks, head of the pharmacy and toxicology department. The National Institute for Drug Abuse under the National Institute of Health commissioned the research. “By studying the science of ecstasy in more detail, we can really figure out the way in which (people) metabolize drugs and how much the body does its best to get rid of it,” Monks said. His interest in pharmacology stems from a background in studying drugs and their effects on the body. Monks’ research goes past the more publicized effects of the drugs. “The first thing that usually is
are hallucinogenic and cardiovascular associated with ecstasy is the acute effect which usually follows an effects when too much of it is used.” He noted that many can begin to overdose on the drug,” he said.“It crave the drug has an adverse in an addiction effect on the The extent to which those process similar kidneys. So, we see the to alcohol or effects are permanent or opiates, and hyperthermic reversible is what we don’t since many response of the know. My lab focuses on how producers of body. We see the drug are the deaths.” and why ecstasy does what Dr. Mazda clandestine it does. So, it will teach us a and there is Shirazi, of the no regulation toxicology lot more about the systems on usage or department we have. dosage, ecstasy of the UA emergency can cause a lot — Dr. Terrence Monks medical center, of harm. notes the effects “It starts Head of UA pharmacy with high of the “hugand toxicology department blood pressure, drug” are hard on the body’s systems. elevated heart rates, increased body temperature and pupil dilation,” Shirazi “You get a loving inebriation,” Shirazi said of the drug.“But there said. “There can be seizures. If there
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$1.7 million given to UA professor to reseach longterm effects is nothing done, there can be kidney damage, muscle deterioration, liver dysfunction … and ultimately death.” Using animal models, the study focuses on long-term physiological effects of the drug on users. This research might be able to find a way prevent the ill effects. “The drug is thought to produce a specific form of neurotoxicity,” Monks said. “Ecstasy interferes with the system that controls a lot of subtle human behaviors. (Users) feel a little more relaxed, or more intimate, more willing to talk about difficult subjects. That’s usually why the drug is used.” Monks said this study will focus on the science and other national studies will work to assess whether the longterm effects are reversible. “The extent to which those effects are permanent or reversible is what we ECSTASY, page 5
Former Daily Wildcat director dies By Matt Lewis ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
File photo/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Former Student Publications Director Clyde Lowery presents the Lowery Award for Professionalism and Integrity to Daily Wildcat former editor in chief Brett Fera in 2005. Lowery died on Sunday from Parkinson’s disease.
Clyde Lowery, a former director of Arizona Student Publications at the UA, passed away around midnight on Sunday. He died from Parkinson’s disease at age 85. He was director from 1973-89 and again in 1992. According to Mark Woodhams, the current director of Arizona Student Media — formerly known as Student Publications — during Lowery’s tenure the Daily Wildcat became financially independent and he helped usher in the computer age. In 2001, the Daily Wildcat established the Clyde Lowery Award for Professionalism and Integrity, which is awarded annually to someone on the newspaper staff. He is survived by his wife Dorothy and his son Brad. Lowery was born in March 7, 1925. He served in the military from 1942-45 in World War II. He graduated from the UA in 1950 under the GI Bill. Lowery worked as reporter in Durango, Colo., for three years before
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After 13 years of research, a cancer vaccine developed at the UA Steele Children’s Research Center will finally be used in human clinical trials. Dr. Emmanuel Katsanis, professor of pediatrics in the UA College of Medicine, began research for the vaccine, which will help keep cancer in remission, when he came to the UA in 1997. Katsanis is an oncologist and holds the Louise Thomas Chair in Pediatric Cancer Research. Colin Easom, the founder of Runway for Research, is excited for the upcoming trials. Katsanis treated Easom’s daughter after she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer several years ago. Though their daughter is doing well, Easom and his wife were motivated to help other children. Easom started an annual fashion show featuring pediatric cancer patients and their siblings. All of the profits are donated to Katsanis’ research. “It is very exciting to see a research project that is highly successful,” Easom said. “We helped fund that project, and hopefully that will VACCINE, page 5
Climate affected human evolution
UA science experts join national team in study By Jazmine Woodberry ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT An old evolution question gets a new answer, thanks in part to the UA. The question: How are some of the biggest human evolutionary steps shaped by the climate in which our ancestors lived? In a report commissioned by the National Science Foundation, a group of scientific experts from around the nation, including UA geosciences professor Andrew Cohen, tackled this question. “The idea is basically that since the time of Charles Darwin, people have had a notion that environmental change is probably responsible for a lot of the evolution we see in humans and their ancestors,” Cohen said. “But we didn’t have good data to examine it.” Studying lake cores as a record of environmental change helped Cohen deliver an environmental perspective to the group of experts for the report. A conjunction between the climate
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