The University of Toledo Medical Center is participating in a clinical study with a cholesterol medication that has been approved by the FDA.

The evolocumab injection, also known by the name brand Repatha-Amgen, is for patients who cannot get their LDL cholesterol low enough with other treatment options. It works best when combined with a healthy diet and statin therapy.

Dr. Mujeeb Sheikh

“The evolocumab injection is an effective drug for patients who have very high cholesterol, but statins, such as LIPITOR, and following a healthy diet aren’t working for them,” said Mujeeb Sheikh, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine and principal investigator for the clinical trial. “Cholesterol is a big problem for many patients. It is the root cause for coronary disease. If we can reduce cholesterol, patients are less likely to need stents and other medical procedures.”

The nationwide 18-month clinical trial, which ends in December, includes patients from UTMC who have not been able to reduce their cholesterol with traditional treatment options. Once the double-blind study is complete, they will receive the medication free of cost.

“This is a powerful drug that can reduce cholesterol by 50 or 60 points by simply giving yourself three injections per months,” Sheikh said. “This is a game changer. I plan to prescribe it to my patients.”

John Jenkins, director of the FDA’S Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a written statement that, “Cardiovascular disease is a serious threat to the health of Americans, and the FDA is committed to facilitating the development and approval of effective and safe drugs to address this important public health problem.”

Sheikh is glad that UTMC can offer people the opportunity to participate in clinical trials. In addition to free medication, they can contribute to the growth of science.

“We are conducting a lot of research at UTMC, and patients can benefit from these cutting-edge developments,” Sheikh said. “We are proud to be a part of important experimental therapies that can improve health care in our city, in our region and even nationwide.”

Media Coverage
WTOL 11 (Dec. 10, 2015)

CORRECTION: “BattleBots” was used in an original headline about the College of Engineering’s senior design expo. The term “BattleBots” is a protected trademark and was unintentionally used by UT, which regrets the oversight.

Building a self-checkout shopping cart, producing biofuels from microscopic algae, renovating The Toledo Zoo’s unused, historic pedestrian tunnel, and fashioning water flippers for a double amputee are a few of the projects that will be on display at The University of Toledo College of Engineering senior design expo.

The public is invited to take a look at all 50 student projects at the Undergraduate Research and Senior Design Engineering Project Exposition from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 in Nitschke Hall.

“The senior design expo is a showcase where our students are able to demonstrate how they have been able to successfully synthesize the various topics they learned over their entire academic program to address a certain societal need,” Dr. Nagi Naganathan, dean of the College of Engineering, said.  “In several instances they earn additional real-world experiences in problem solving by working with local area sponsors.  Several also have gone on to pursue commercialization of their senior design projects, and that entrepreneurial mindset is exactly what we hope to instill in our students at the College of Engineering.”

The College of Engineering sponsors the event to showcase design projects created by graduating seniors from the departments of Bioengineering, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Engineering Technology, and Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering.

As part of the required senior design capstone project, students create business-consulting units to develop a solution for a client’s technical or business challenge.  Businesses, industries and federal agencies sponsor these projects.

A University of Toledo mental health counselor says that people aren’t taking time to relax and enjoy life these days, in particular during the hectic holiday season.

While that might seem like nothing new, Thomas Fine, associate professor of psychiatry, said floating is making a comeback as an alternative mode of relaxation.

Thomas Fine

“If you are looking for ways to deal with stress, I would consider floating as a stress management activity,” Fine said. “Floating is so relaxing. The buoyance of the water allows your muscles to relax. As your muscles relax, your mind begins to shut off.”

Fine, who started researching flotation in the 1970s with UT colleague John Turner, a professor in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, said that it is promising that this once “hippie thing” is gaining credence as a possible source of relaxation. Fine was recently quoted in a TIME magazine article about floating as a therapy for distress.

Through the ’90s, Fine and Turner published studies on floating. Scientifically known as floatation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique (REST), their studies looked at subjects who participated in eight 40-minute float sessions in salt water at skin temperature.

“In several studies we saw improvements in blood pressure, mood, pain and muscle tension as a result of the regular experience of deep relaxation that accompanies frequent floatation experiences ,” Fine said.

Isolation tanks, which are lightless and soundproof, designed for floatation relaxation are as close as metro Detroit.

“Interestingly enough, people want to relax, but don’t want to take the time to relax or make the drive to experience the best relaxation of their life,” Fine said. “What makes our research still relevant today is that the stress that humans are experiencing continues to ramp up as we become more immersed in technology. When I first started studying floating, we didn’t have smartphones or emails. We could go on vacation without having to check in at work or respond to questions or concerns. We live in a world filled with stress and overstimulation.”

Fine, who presented at the Portland Float Conference in August 2015, recognizes that not everyone will be able to experience an isolation tank, but yoga and meditation are activities that can produce similar results.

“You could also get into bed and put a pillow under your head and a pillow under your knees and lie there with no light and no sound for 30 minutes,” he said. “If you did that, you would be starting to approach the deep relaxation experienced by those who float.”

Come hangout with Santa and Rudolph as they learn how to find their way home using constellations in The University of Toledo Ritter Planetarium’s annual showing of “Santa’s Secret Star.”

The holiday program is targeted toward children 4 to 8 years of age.

After Santa finishes his Christmas deliveries, he and his reindeer become lost. Without a compass, he and Rudolph turn to the constellations for help, and the stars lead them to the North Star, which guides them home.

The original show was written in 1988 by Ritter Planetarium Associate Director Alexander Mak, and it has been updated for the planetarium’s new projection system.

“It’s one of our more popular shows during the year,” Mak said. “It’s educational, it’s entertaining, and it’s seasonally appropriate.”

Admission to the program is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 and up, senior citizens and UT community members. All children younger than 4 are free.

The program will be held Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 1 p.m. through Dec. 19. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the show.

After Friday night programs, guests are taken to one of two of the observatories for sky viewing, weather permitting.

Media Coverage
La Prensa (Dec. 8, 2015)
The Blade (Dec. 9, 2015)

In response to the overwhelming amount of questions and concerns raised by students about the recent terrorist attacks and ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, The University of Toledo will hold an additional symposium at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 in the Memorial Field House Auditorium Room 2100.

The event is free and open to the public.

“Our community has been riveted and horrified by the stories and images coming out of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, Beirut and Mali,” Dr. Joel Voss, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs, said. “The brazen attacks raise a number of issues for communities here in the U.S. and across the world.”

The panel hosted by the School of Interdisciplinary Studies will include Voss, Dr. Asma Abdel Halim, interim chair for the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, Dr. Fatima Al-Hayani, retired professor of Middle Eastern studies, and law professor Ben Davis.

The panel discussion will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

“The discussion will resonate with not only students, but residents across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan,” Abdel Halim said.  “The panel also will address several specific topics, including what is motivating terrorist groups and whether we can make a paradigm shift in how we think about the victims.”

This event is a follow-up to UT’s teach-in last month which tackled a wide range of issues, including the fears of resettling Syrian refugees.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (Dec. 3, 2015)
The Blade (Dec. 4, 2015)