Another Blow To Estrogen

[07.16.02] -- For the second time little more than a week this July, hormone replacement therapy was dealt a major blow by new research into its long term risks. The newest findings - which tie estrogen therapy to increased risk of ovarian cancer - follow on the heels of last week's news linking hormone replacement to risks of strokes, heart attacks and breast cancer. The scientific evidence, wrote a Tufts expert in an editorial in one of the country's top medical journals, should prompt doctors to rethink their use of the therapy. >>> 

Smokers Put Pets At Risk

[08.01.02] -- Providing more scientific evidence about the deadly effects of second-hand smoke, a new study from Tufts reports that cats living in homes with smokers are more than twice as likely than other cats to acquire feline lymphoma cancer. The research - which is the first of its kind - alters current views on the causes of lymphoma in cats and may help scientists better understand the causes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in humans. >>> 

Body Makes Cholera Stronger

[08.02.02] -- A naturally-occurring bacteria, cholera infects more than 30,000 people a year -- rapidly spreading through developing countries, causing severe dehydration and even death. But new research from Tufts indicates that the bacteria are much more infectious than originally thought. While the findings help explain how cholera spreads so quickly, they may complicate ongoing efforts to find a vaccine. >>> 

Breaking The Bank

[08.02.02] -- In a report issued just hours before the U.S. Senate rejected a proposal to add prescription drugs to Medicare coverage, experts from Tufts reported that nearly a quarter of all senior citizens skip doses or avoid renewing their prescription drugs because they cost too much. >>> 

A Starving Nation

[05.23.02] -- While the ongoing war in Afghanistan has received extensive media attention, the worsening drought that continues to cause a humanitarian disaster has largely gone unnoticed within the international community. But a new Tufts report -- cited as the most comprehensive of its kind -- reveals startling details about the extent of the social and economic havoc plaguing the war-torn nation. >>>

Second-Hand Smoke, Osteoporosis Linked

[08.22.02] -- The health risks associated with second-hand smoke - which already include asthma, heart disease, cancer and even tooth decay - continue to rise. According to new research by leading experts at Tufts, women exposed to passive smoke are at greater risk of low bone density - a major contributor to osteoporosis. >>> 

The Skinny On Trans Fat

[08.15.02] -- Found in over 42,000 food products and considered more potent than saturated fat, trans fat is difficult to avoid. While the average American consumes close to 5 grams of the substance a day, researchers say even one gram--which can drive up LDL cholesterol levels--is too much in a healthy diet. To help better educate consumers, nutrition experts including Tufts' Alice Lichtenstein are working on new ways to inform the public about the dangers of trans fat and ways to avoid it. >>> 

Insights From A Virtual Eye

[07.26.02] -- Scientists don't know what causes retinal detachment or how to prevent it, but they do know that it can have devastating consequences. Of the 25,000 people who suffer from the condition every year, almost a third have irreparable eye damage, including blindness. But new research by a doctor at Tufts-New England Medical Center [NEMC] - conducted with a unique digital eye simulator he designed - may provide doctors with a fresh look at the causes of the condition and new ideas for treating and preventing it. >>>

The Forgotten Patients

[07.15.02] -- Each year, one in 25,000 children are born with Sanfilippo syndrome--a rare condition that prevents the babies' bodies from processing sugars. Without any way to break the sugars down, or stop them from building up in the body, the sugars become a slow-acting poison. While hundreds of newborns are born with Sanfilippo every year, a Tufts expert says most go untreated because most doctors don't know how to recognize the deadly condition. >>>

Too Much Of A Good Thing

[07.11.02] -- For many endurance athletes - who push themselves to the limit for hours at a time - fluids are essential during their training. But drinking too much water, says an expert at Tufts' Medical School, can cause a rare but dangerous condition that can lead to brain damage and even death. >>>

Feeling Sluggish?

[06.21.02] -- Feeling sluggish? It may not be caused by long hours at the office or a lack of sleep. According to experts, many people overlook the role their diet plays in their energy levels. The right foods, says a nutrition expert at Tufts, can make all the difference. >>>   

Growing Older, Getting Stronger

[06.26.02] -- After enduring eight months of chemotherapy to treat a rare form of inflammatory breast cancer, Susan Asci got a new lease on life. And she was determined to make good on a promise she made to herself to give others the same second chance, by helping Tufts-New England Medical Center raise the funds needed to study the little known disease that threatened her life. >>> 

Keeping Her Promise

[07.24.02] -- With baby-boomers getting older, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the American senior citizen population will reach an unprecedented 50 million within the next 20 years. But the elderly population of the future may not have to worry about the aches and pains commonly associated with old age, thanks to what experts have described as "groundbreaking" research by Tufts' Miriam Nelson Ph.D. >>> 

Do You Need More E?

[05.31.02] -- In the eighty years since its discovery, vitamin E has been credited with a wealth of healthy benefits -- everything from boosting immunity and fighting cancer to reducing the effects of aging. But most Americans aren't getting enough of the powerful antioxidant, say Tufts researchers, because they don't know which foods are good sources of the vitamin. >>> 

It's A Woman's World

[06.10.02] -- There is a growing trend in veterinary medicine. At Tufts, over 80 percent of this year's graduating class of veterinarians were women; nationwide, over 75 percent of veterinary students are female. Nearly a century after the first women earned veterinary degrees, the field is quickly changing from a traditionally male-dominated profession to one in which women make up the majority. >>>

A Global Approach To Education

[07.30.02] -- Before getting involved in Pearl Robinson's course, many students at Makerere University in Uganda had never touched a computer before. The same was true for many students at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. But the Tufts professor's approach to global education has changed that - creating an online international classroom, where hundreds of students on the two continents discuss international issues, learn from each other, and even debate U.S. policy toward Africa with a high ranking member of Bush Administration. >>> 

Treating Students Like Customers

[08.19.02] -- While the interior and exterior of Tufts' high-tech Dowling Hall are impressive, what makes the award-winning Student Services Center so unique is the new way of thinking it represents. Designed to simplify students' lives, while increasing the University's ability to respond to their varied needs, Tufts' new facility combines nine departments and hundreds of administrative functions and personnel into a single, highly-focused center. >>> 

Coming Full Circle

[08.08.02] -- During the same year that Elizabeth Windsor was named Queen of England and the polio vaccine was discovered, "Sleeping Beauty" opened on Magic Circle's stage in 1952 - marking the debut of the Tufts summer theater program. While a great deal has changed over the 50 years that have passed since the program was founded, the basic principles that have made Tufts' Magic Circle program so unique remain rock solid. >>> 

Boredom Can Be Healthy

[08.23.01] -- A recent study of parents shows that the majority think their kids need to have a lot of planned activities to fill their spare time. But a Tufts expert says a little boredom can play a big role in children's development and shouldn't be scheduled out of kids' day-to-day lives. >>>

Not Enough Earth To Go Around

[08.10.01] -- Representing less than five percent of the world's population, Americans consume 30 percent of its resources and produce 25 percent of its greenhouse gasses and waste. The impact of the "American Dream" -- and the excesses it champions - is felt globally, according to a Tufts expert, who says at this rate, it will only be a matter of time before there isn't enough Earth to go around. >>> 

Should The U.S. Invade Iraq?

[08.09.01] -- Over a decade after the U.S. ended the Persian Gulf War, U.S. military and political analysts are considering a new U.S. offensive in the region to remove Saddam Hussein from power. But the instability of the Middle East, as well as the military and legal obstacles to a new offensive, must be weighed carefully, say Tufts experts.
>>> 

Dog Days Of Summer

[07.15.02] -- As the country heads into the heart of summer, temperatures around the nation are expected to climb - putting people and their pets are risk. Last month, a Philadelphia police dog died from heat exhaustion, and more animals could follow if their owners aren't careful. Keeping pets cool during the dog days of summer can be easy, says a Tufts expert, with just a few simple steps. >>> 

No Longer Child's Play

[08.07.02] -- It may be summer vacation, but that hasn't stopped a room full of 10-year-old students from embracing lessons in physics and mathematics. Using an innovative tool developed by Tufts' Chris Rogers, teachers at New Zealand's Ilam School are using computerized LEGOS to cover sophisticated science and engineering concepts. >>> 

Red Sox Honor Gittleman

[08.23.02] -- While Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez didn't make his scheduled appearance at Fenway against the Texas Rangers on Thursday, one of Tufts' top aces did. Professor and former Provost Sol Gittleman took the mound in front of thousands, including a large audience of alumni, to throw out the first pitch - which, by all accounts, was a strike. >>>   [ Watch the video ]

Getting Their Fair Share

[05.24.02] -- Over a decade ago, the Boys Club of America changed its name and charter -- officially opening its doors to girls for the first time. The move was part of a trend to expand coed youth programs nationwide. While the number of programs available to both boys and girls improved as a result, a study by Tufts' Molly Mead shows the quality of the programming for girls did not. >>> 

The Next Great Social Movement

[08.26.02] -- Cutting carbon emissions. Promoting fuel efficiency. Building "green" dorms. While not as dramatic as the campus anti-war rallies of the 1960s, these steps are crucial in what many believe to be the next great social movement to hit college campuses - climate change activism. And Tufts, writes an environmental magazine, is among the universities leading the way. >>> 

The Wrong Approach?

[08.09.02] --In just three years, the mosquito-carried West Nile Virus has quickly spread to 35 states and has infected hundreds of people. Though rarely fatal, the virus has many cities and towns on edge, as they look for ways to fight the disease and put residents at ease. But their strategy of choice - spraying pesticides into the air - may do more harm than good, says a Tufts expert. >>> 

Big Dig Bonus

[07.01.02] -- The largest and most challenging highway project ever undertaken in U.S. history, Boston's Big Dig will consume $15 billion in construction costs and over 15 years to complete. While the massive construction project carries a hefty price tag, it's money well spent - and not just to relieve traffic congestion. The green spaces created by the submerged central artery will be worth $1 billion alone, say Tufts experts. >>> 

Maintaining The Balance Of Power

[07.29.02] -- The skies over Taiwan just got a little more dangerous. In June, China began testing new air-to-air missiles which threaten to give the sprawling country military superiority in Taiwan's airspace. While the development may put the fragile balance of power in the region at risk, the U.S. can keep the peace by arming Taiwan, say two students at Tufts' Fletcher School. >>> 

Room To Share

[07.25.02] -- Over the last 30 years, the size of the average home in America has swelled by nearly 1,000 square feet - giving families plenty of room to spread out. And most of today's children - unlike the generations before them - never worry about sharing a room with a sibling. But giving kids too much space has some trade-offs, says a Tufts expert, which may not make it the best choice. >>>

[05.30.02] -- Produced by the millions every year, lead sinkers and lead weighted fishing hooks are commonly found in the tackle boxes of fishermen across the country. Unfortunately, they can also be found with increasing regularity in the stomachs of dead loons -- one of the oldest groups of birds in the world. After revealing the lead fishing tackle is poisoning hundreds -- if not thousands -- of the endangered birds, research by Tufts' Mark Pokras is leading many states to find ways to convince fishermen to "get the lead out." >>> 

Tufts' Newest Shooting Star

[06.20.02] -- Carla Berube knows how to win basketball games. As a player at the University of Connecticut, she made two trips to the Final Four and helped secure a national championship for UConn's undefeated team in 1995. Now a young coach, Berube will bring her basketball knowledge and love for the game to Tufts, as the new head coach of the University's women's basketball team. >>> 

Homework: A No Brainer

[06.07.01] -- They may not like it, but they need to do it. As kids add more and more extra curricular activities and sports to their already full schedules, the time left for homework seems to grow increasingly smaller. But a Tufts expert says skipping out on homework can keep kids from developing the important skills they will need for future success. >>>

 

Obsessed With "The Curse"

[05.15.02] -- Is this the year to reverse the curse? It's a perennial question in Boston and one that has earned increased attention as the Red Sox continue to play their best baseball in decades. The city's famous "Curse of the Bambino" -- which is blamed for the last 84-year stretch without a World Series Title -- has given Boston baseball fans a unique relationship with America's Pastime, Tufts Provost Sol Gittleman told National Public Radio. >>>

How Dangerous Are "Dirty Bombs?"

[06.11.02] -- On Monday, John Ashcroft announced that law enforcement and intelligence officials broke up a plan to set off a "dirty bomb" in the nation's capitol. While just the notion of a weapon with some "nuclear capability" frightens many, experts say the real danger is fear, not fall out. >>>

Alum Named To Red Sox Hall of Fame

[08.12.02] -- The first Red Sox pitcher to earn the Cy Young award, Jim Lonborg will long be remembered by fans for his domination on the mound during Boston's 1967 "Impossible Dream" season. Last week, the Tufts graduate and Red Sox legend was given an official place in Boston sports lore, when the team announced that he will be among the newest additions to the Red Sox Hall of Fame. >>> 

A Real Heavy Hitter

[08.02.01] -- Throughout his career, Lou DiBella has been responsible for some of boxing's biggest fights. But few compare to the Tufts graduate's ongoing battle to clean up the boxing industry, which he says is suffering from conflicts of interest, outdated rules and regulations and a history of exploiting fighters. >>> 

Bringing Tourists Back To New York

[07.18.02] -- Jonathan Tisch got his start in the tourism business at an early age at his family's Traymore Hotel in Atlantic City, where he schlepped bags and suitcases for guests. After working his way to the top of the field, the Tufts graduate and Loews Hotel CEO now finds himself shouldering another heavy load - rebuilding NYC's tourism industry. >>> 

Grad Heads Red Cross

[06.27.02] -- Marsha Johnson Evans is a trailblazer. During her 29-year career in the U.S. Navy, she became just the second woman to earn the rank of Rear Admiral and the first to command an American Navy base. And as executive director of the Girl Scouts, she increased the organizations' membership by 2.8 million. On Thursday, the American Red Cross named the accomplished Fletcher graduate as its 13th president and CEO. >>> 

Throwing Baseball A Curveball

[06.24.02] -- The last time a strike brought Major League Baseball to a halt, Heather Holdridge was a student at Tufts. By the time the players returned to the field eight months later, she was angry and vowed not to sit by quietly if baseball headed down a similar path again. Eight years later, the Tufts graduate is making good on her promise, as she joins thousands of fans preparing a strike of their own to protest baseball's stumbling labor negotiations. >>> 

Relaxing The Rules

[06.17.02] -- For almost 200 years, the New England Journal of Medicine has been widely considered the country's most prestigious medical journal - reporting and reviewing new research and treatments across the medical field. Last week, Journal editor and Tufts graduate Jeffrey Drazen announced that the publication was changing its conflict of interest policy -- blaming it for the small and shrinking pool of authors eligibleto evaluate drugs for the Journal. But some wonder if the change will ultimately hurt the Journal's longstanding credibility. >>> 

Grad Drafted By DiamondBacks

[06.05.02] -- With a .404 batting average and a 3.5 GPA, Dan Callahan's career at Tufts -- both on the baseball field and in the classroom -- was very impressive. On Tuesday, the international relations major and record-setting right fielder was rewarded for his hard work, when the World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks selected the Tufts graduate in the 21st round of Tuesday's draft. >>> 

Making A Splash

[06.27.02] -- For koi owners like Carl Forss, Tufts graduate Sandra Yosha is a lifesaver. The pet fish – which can live more than 60 years and command six-figure prices – are growing increasingly popular in the U.S. and around the world. And Yosha is one of just a few veterinarians in the nation with the expertise to keep them healthy. >>> 

The Eight-Minute Matchmaker

[06.13.02] -- While some of the country's 85 million single people have found that finding the "right person" can take what seems like an eternity, others have opted for a much faster approach -- speed dating. And Tufts graduate Tom Jaffee -- the founder of the highly successful company 8minuteDating -- says an eight-minute conversation may be all it takes to find true love, or at least a second date. >>> 

A More Perfect Union

[07.03.02] -- As a student at Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Smita Notosusanto studied the democratization processes in Latin America and Eastern Europe. Now a professor of international affairs at the University of Indonesia, the 1996 Tufts graduate has begun to make some political waves of her own by leading a movement for constitutional reform in Indonesia. >>>