tlie
U . S . DEPARTM ENT 0 1' H EALTH. EDUCATIO N . AN O W ll!:Ll'Al'U:
July 12, 1978 Vol. XXX, No. 14
Dr. Emilie Black Named NIGMS Ass't Director For Clinical Research
Dr. Emilie A. Black has been named assistant director for Clinical Research in the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. She previou!ly served as director of the Institutl''s Clinical and Psychological Sciences Program.
Dr. Black joined NlGMS in December 1968 as program adminis-
In addition to her other duties, Dr. Black will continue to administer N ICMS's research offorts in anesthesiology and burn, and trauma.
trator of Clinical ScienccH, Re,.earch Grants Branch, and has since held positions as acting executive secretary, General Medical Sciences Program P roject Committee, and as assistant chief for RGB Clinical Programs.
In her new position, she will serve as staff expert and advisor for clinically related activities to D r. Ruth L. Kirschstein, NIGMS Director.
She received her B.S. and )f.D. dt'srrees from George Washington l'niversity. Following an internship and residency in internal medicine at Garfield Hospital, she servt'd a residency in pediatrics at the D.C. Children's Hospital during which time she worked on the rick<>lt.~ial viru,.es, especially Rocky Mountain spotted fever virus, and the use of broad spectrum antibiotics.
From 1949 to 1966, while in private pediatric practice in the Bethesda area, Dr. Black l<crved concurrently as a medical officer
(See DR. BLACK, Page 1.1)
Clinical Nutrition Conference: A Projection for the l 980's
By Tom Flnin and Julie Klug
Participants in the Biomedical and Behavior al BaRis of Clinical Nutrition Conference affirmed the need for new knowledge concerning nutrition, as well us for program!; designed to promote public education in nutrition.
Cited as the brj!',crest supporter of nutrition research in the country, NIH hosted the national conference on June 19-20 with participants from other Federal agcndes and departments, academic authorities
Dr. Fredrickson Member Of Delegation to China
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson, NIH Director, wa!; one of the high-level delegation of 11 ~t"ientists who flew to China for talks on science and technology.
H1•urled by Dr. Frank Press, President Carter's science advisor, the delegation wa!; in Pekini: from July Ii to 10.
The mission's four basic pur poses, according- to officials, was to e~tablish offit"ial i-ontacts in science and technolo,n•; to explain the C.S. Government'i; ~ience policy; to ass1•PS China's pre~ent state of science and technology; and to suggest ways of expanding exchanges.
Contacts in areas of interest to the C'hinese agriculturl', enerey, and medical research, for example -were stressed.
on nutrition, and two outstanding paneh, one on consumer affairs, the other composed of Congre~sional staff.
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson, NI H Director, greeted the particip1rnts and some 600 attendees of the conference, which was sponsored by the NIH Kutrition Coordinating Committee.
Noting improper nutrition as being directly linked to 6 of the 10 leading cause~ of death, Hale Champion, Under Secretary of HEW, spoke for HEW Secretary Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
Further introductory remarks addressing the potential of clinical nutrition were given by Or. Julius Richmond. R EW Assistant Secretary for Health. Dr. Artemis P . Simopoulos, NCC vice chairman and execut ive secretary, presented tho NIH program in clinical nutrilion research, and Dr. S1•ymour Perry, NCC chairman, introduced and chaired the six scientific panels on .June 19.
(Continued 011. Page 8)
Among those participati1tg in the Clinical Nutrition Confe rence were Cleft to right I: Dr. Simopoulos; Dr. E. H. Ahrens , Jr. , Rockefeller University ; Dr. Dubos; Dr. Corald Caull, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Me1ttal Retardation ; Dr. Fredrickson; and Dr. Jules Hirsch, Rockefeller University.
NAT IO NAL I NSTITUTll!:8 0 1' H EALTH
Dr. Leon Jacobs Selected Director, Fogarty Center
Dr. Jacobs, who hH received several awards for research on toxoplasmosis and other infections, is preside1tt of the American Society of Parasitologists.
Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson, NIH Director, ha.~ announced the selection of o~. Leon Jacobs as Director of the John E. Fogarty I nternational Center for Advanced Study in the Health Sciences.
"I am pleased to announce the selection of Dr. Leon Jacobs as Director of the Center," Dr. Fredl'il-kson said.
"All of us who have had the good fortune to work with Leon in his prt'sent position-as well as in his previou~ position as Deputy A~,istant Secretary for Science in the Office of the Secretary, HEWknow of his vast knowledge and sage advice."
Established Contract Guidelines
Since 1972 Dr. Jacobs has served as Associate Dir1•etor of Collaborative Research in the Office of the Director, KIH, maintaining ~urveillance of the NJ 11 contracts program through the establishment of guidelines for the initiation and review of con tracts.
FIC fosters international cooperation and collaboration in the interests of the health of mankind, and was the first Center for advanced study within t he Federal structure.
The Center coordinates intema(Sce DR. JACOBS, Page ,4)
Page 2 July 12, 1978
ecord P ublished biweekly at Bethesda, Md., by the Editorial Operations Branch, Division of P ublic Information, for the information of employees of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and circulated by r equest to interested writers and to investigators in the field of biomedical and related research. The content is reprintable without permission. Pictures are available on request. The NIH R ecord reserves the right to make corrections, changes, or deletions in submitted copy in conformity with the policies of the paper and the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
NIH Record Office . Bldg. 31, Room 2B-03. Phone 496-2125
Editor . . . . . ....... . ... .
Associate Editor
.. Frances W. Davis
. . . . . Heather Banks
Staff Correspondents
ADA, Judy Fouche; CC, Susan Gerhold; DCRT, Mary Hodges; DRG, Sue Meadows; DRR, Jerry Gordon; DRS, Arthur F. Moore; FIC, George Presson; NCI, Dr. Robert M. Hadsell; NEI, Julian Morris; NHLBI, Bill Sanders; NIA, Ann Dieffenbach; NIAID, Jeanne Winnick; NIAMDD, Diane Naedel; NICHD, Tina McIntosh; NIDR, Sue Burroughs; NIEHS, Hugh J . Lee; NIGMS, Wanda Warddell; NIMH, Betty Zubovic; NIN CDS, Carolyn Holstein; NLM, Roger L . Gilkeson.
Personnel Continues Phone Series With Special Theme
The telephone series of recordings on personnel topics will be available indefinitely on a 24-hour basis.
To hear topics featuring the theme, Employment Information and Career Development Opportun ities, call 496-4608 on the dates indicated:
Jvly 10-14-Preparing an Effective SF 171 and Interviewing for a Job
July 17-21-Office Skills Career Development Program
July 24-28-Apprent iceship Program
July 31-Aug. 4-Stride Program
Aug. 7-11- NIH Management Intern Program
A Few Concert Series Tickets Available for NIH Newcomers
FAES has withheld a limited number of tickets for the 1978-79 Chamber Music Series to give those NIH Staff Fellows and Clinical Associates arriving after July l an opportunity to subscribe to the concert series. Tickets for those eligible will be available now through Aug. 15.
For more information and a subscription form, contact the FAES office, Bldg. 10, Rm. Bl-L-101, phone 496-5272.
The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences will present eight concerts in its 1978-79 Chamber Music Series.
The concert dates are: Oct. 8, 1978-The Cleveland
Quartet with Richard Stolzman Nov. 4, 1978- Virtuosi di Roma Dec. S, 1978-Peter Serkin
FAES Graduate School Fall Semester Courses Listed in New Catalog
The FAES Graduate School at NIH has scheduled its courses for the fall semester. The evening classes sponsored by the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences will be given on the NIH campus.
Courses are offered in biochemistry, biology, genetics, chemistry, physics, mathematics, medicine, physiology, immunology, microbiology, nursing, psychology, psychiatry, statistics, languages, and administration, as well as courses of general interest.
It is often possible to transfer credits earned to other institut ions for degree work, and many courses are approved for AMA Category I credit.
Tuition is $26 per credit hour, and courses may be taken for credit or audit. Those students whose expenses will be paid by the Government should apply at once to their administrative offices for training assistance.
Classes will begin Sept. 18, with registration possible by mail now through Aug. 18, and in person from Sept. 13.
Catalogs are available in the FAES office in the Clinical Center, Bldg. 10, Room Bl-L-101. To have one sent, call 496-5272.
Jan. 21, 1979- The Vermeer String Quartet
Feb. 25, 1979-Sylvia Marcovici Mar. 18, 1979-The Trio di Mi
lano Apr. 8, 1979- Laurence Lesser
and Samuel Sanders Apr. 29, 1979-Rudolf Firkusny
Apprenticeship Training Position Applications Accepted in Late July
Applications will be accepted in late July for the following apprenticeship positions:
Carpenter E lectrician Painter Plumber Refrigeration and Air Condition
ing Mechanic Sheet Metal Mechanic Stationary Engineer (Boiler
P lant Operator) There is one apprenticeship posi
tion for each job listed above except for the last-there are two positions for the Stationary Engineer job .
To be eligible employee must: • Have been employed at J\"'JH
for 1 year as of close of business Aug. 14, 1978;
• Be in a permanent full-time position, or if part-time, be willing to be reassigned to a full-time position; and
• Be in a nonprofessional job series ( one grade promotions).
Refer to the upcoming July 24 NIH Merit Promotion Vacancy Listing on NIH Bulletin Boards or in B/ J/ D pe1·sonnel offices for application procedures.
Women May Apply
For more information, employees may attend the scheduled questionand-answer session in Wilson Hall, Bldg. 1, on either Wednesday, July 26, at 4 p.m., or Thursday, Aug. 11, at 9 a.m.
Women are encouraged to apply.
Rebecca Wilner has been appointed personnel officer for the Office of the Director, Fogarty International Center and the Office of Administration Personnel Office. She joined the NIH Division of Personnel Management in 1970. Ms. Wilner has worked as a personnel generalist in the personnel offices of the National Eye Institute, the Division of Research Resources, and served as personnel officer for the Division of Research Services. She received both B.S. and M.A. degrees in public administration from American University.
THE NIB RECORD
Confidential Counseling Is Available to Employees
The issue of confidentiality in counseling is raised repeatedly in reference to the Employee Assistance Program. Fear of repercussions is one of the major obstacles to seeking counseling.
Information given during the counseling sessions remains totally confidential under all circumstances.
Jf an employee's job performance deteriorates to the point of supervisory referral t o the EAP, then, of course, such action is documented by the supervisor along with information relating to poor job performance. This documentation is available to the employee, and he/ she may receive copies for his records.
Offer Assistance
The referral is an attempt to offer assistance and is not a disciplinary action.
For self-referred individuals, confidentiality is strictly respected unless the person wants his or her supervisor to know about the counseling and/ or needs time off to attend weekly sessions. Should the latter be the case, a release of information signed by the employee authorizes the counselor to reveal 011/y attendance or outside referral if indicated.
Call 496-2738 for further information or to make an appointment.
Sign Up for R& W Trip To Orioles/ Yankees Game
See the Baby Birds take on last year's world champions, the Big Bad Yankees, at Memorial Stadium, on Monday evening, Aug. 14. Watch your favorites-Reggie, Thurmond, Craig, Willie, and their awesome pitching staff-take on the surging Oriole team.
Charter Bus Included
Gather your family and friends for an evening of fun in Baltimore: $5.75 includes reserved seats, round trip bus fare, and service charge. Buses will leave Bldg. 31C at 6 :15 p.m. and return following the game.
A limited supply of tickets is available, so hurry- sign up at the R&W Activities Desk in Bldg. 31 NOW!
NIAID Honors Six Employees
Dr. Ken neth Sell, scientific director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently presented 30-year length of service awards to C. Elwood Claggett, Dr. Louis S. Diamond, Rodney H . Duvall, Louise P. Kendrick, Dr. Eugene C. Weinbach, and Serrah C. Wood.
THE NIH RECORD July 12, 1978 Page S
Aid PEF, Win a Prize for Guessing Total Health's Angels 24-Hour Relay Mileage
The NI H Health's Angels will be r unn ing in the Runner's World East Coast 24-Hour Relay Race at Ft. Meade, Md. The NIH team of speedsters is expected to run between 240 and 280 miles-a mile at a time per team member. They w ill run at the r ate of 5 :20 and 6 :00 minutes a mile starting Saturday, Aug. 5, at high noon and finish ing Sunday, Aug. 6, 24 hours later.
TRAINING TIPS The following courses are being
sponsored by the Executive and Management Development Branch in the next 2 months:
Super11isor11 Time Management for Super
visors-July 11 and 12 Concepts of Classification and
F .E.S.- July 18 and 19 Management of Conflict and
Agreement-July 26-28 Communication Issues- Aug,
7-9 Super visory and Managerial
Effectiveness-Sept. 12-14 M arwge1·ial
Understanding and Managing Stress-Sept. 7 and 8
F or more information call Sacelia Damuth, 496-6371.
Automated Typewriting Workshops To Be Held
The Graduate School, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is now offering daytime workshops in automated typewriting.
Classes -at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels on magnetic keyboards include the Memory Typewriter, Mag Card A, and Mag Car II.
The workshops will be helrl in ,July, August, and September. Tuit ion is $8,5 per course, and includes all books and course materials.
For information and brochures, call 447-7124.
Here's the pitch: For $1 you can guess how far our team will run.
The person with the closest guess to the total number of miles and yards (1760 yards per mile) will receive a $50 U.S. Savings Bond from the R&W Association.
Drop your guess--or guesses--off with a $1 check per guess-in the fish bowls (envelopes provided) at any R&W Gift Shop. Be sure to include name, and NIH Building and Room number. · For the past 2 years Health's
Angels have won individual awards in this national event. Come out and cheer the team on. F ort Meade is off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway on Route 198.
Blood Bank, Red Cross Sponsor Joint Summer Drive at Landow Bldg.
The Clinical Center Blood Bank and the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross are sponsoring a joint summer blood drive on Wednesday, ,J uly 19, from 9 :30 a.m. to 3: 15 p.m. in Conference Room C418/414 of the Landow Bldg., 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda.
This drive seeks to recruit new blood donors and make it convenient for regular hlood donors in the Landow Bldg. to CQntinue their donations.
The blood will be used to support patient care at the CC as well as in the Metropolitan Washing-ton area p/1,s keeping up the Blood Assurance Program for NIH employees.
Help make this summer season a safe one for those who need blood. Be a volunteer blood donor at the Landow Bldg.
For information or an appointment, call the CC Blood Bank, Bldg. l0A, Room 1E33, 496-J048 or 1049, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through F r iday.
L to r, Steve Weise and Pat Harwood teamed up in Mixed Doubles to defeat Millie Steckman and Ray Chen.
Finals of the 1978 Spring Tournament were held J11ne 11 on the NIH tennis co11rts. ln a replay of last year's final, James Hamilton (11 defeated Antonio Rene to retain the Men 's "A" Singles title.
David Anderson ( r ) was the Men's " B" Singles Champion with a straight set victory over Ted Breitman.
1978
NIH
Spring
Tennis
Tournament
Finals
In Women's Singles, Nona Rene ( I) had to retire with a 7 - 6 , 2 -0 lead to give the t itle to defending Spring Tournament Champion Bonnie Kalberer.
L to r, Brad Lindgren and Richard Broadwell , last year's Men's Doubles runnersup, captured first place this time in a three-set victory over Peter Rene and Steve Weise.
From left, Pat Harwood and Flora Feld w ere Women's Doubles Champions over Nancie Doran and Joan Casey.
Page 4 July 12, 1978 THE NIH RECORD
Norman Mills Shows He 'Can Dolt'Rises From Animal Caretaker to A-. 0.
There are not too many NIH employees around who have started at the GS-~ level and, by dint of self-motivation and sheer persistence, surfaced with a college degree and an appointment as an administrative officer.
Norman E . Mills, administrative officer of the Division of Research Resources, joined NIH as an animal caretaker in 1955, and was one of the original group of participants in the Stride program launched by NIH in 1972.
Graduated in 1976
He majored in personnel management at American University and says, "It was quite a shock to be competing with men and women 20 to 25 years younger." He completed the course requirements in 3½ years, graduating in 1976-approximately 23 years after receiving his diploma from Cardoza High School.
Although the native-born Washingtonian was offered athletic scholarships as an outstanding swimmer by three colleges upon graduation from high school, he had no interest in higher education at that time.
After working for 2 years as a truck driver, Mr. Mills became a Civil Service employee at NIH as a GS-1 animal caretaker for the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness under Dr. Maitland Baldwin, chief of Surgical Neurology.
Did Medical Photography
An amateur photographer, Mr. Mills convinced Dr. Baldwin in 1960 that he was capable of doing medical photography.
He eventually set up a laboratory in the Bldg. 9 animal area, where he photographed and processed most of the gross histological specimens of chimpanzees and rhesus monkeys. In 1966 he received a Superior Performance Award for his efforts.
In addition to his photography and laboratory assistant work, the energetic medical biology technician also taught autopsy preparation and embalming procedures to new laboratory employees. In 1970, he became a full-time laboratory photographer for the Institute.
Coordinates Move
He came to DRR in 1973 as a Stride employee participant and, upon receiving his B.S. degree in personnel management from American University, was made assistant administrative officer in 1976. He subsequently won a Special Achievement Award that same year for his efforts in coordinating a major move of the Division.
On Dec. 4, 1977, Mr. Mills was appointed DRR administrative officer.
A deeply religious man, Mr. Mills is an active member of the
On the way up the career ladder, Mr. Mills performed the duties of a medical photographer as well as a biology technician.
Edward Lambert Retires From Dental Institute
Edward C. Lambert, mechanical engineering- technician, National Institute of Dental Research, recently retired after 34 years of Government service.
Mr. Lambert served in the U.S. Navy before joining the Naval Ordnance Laboratory as an instrument maker in 1948.
He transferred to the Division of Research Services' Laboratory Aids Branch of NIH in 1957, and shortly thereafter was assigned to NIDR where he remained for the balance of his career.
Responsible for Instruments
Responsible for designing and fabricating many special instruments for use in the ultrastructure studies of calcified tissues, Mr. Lambert a lso provided assistance to all the laboratories of the Den ta! Institute's Intramural Programs.
Evangel Temple Church. Re reside_s with his family in Landover, Md., and expects to have both of his daughters in college simultaneously within a few years.
He still retains his interest in photography and occasionally does some professional work for community functions.
The 43-year-old administrator says he has acquired a philosophy in recent years which may explain his rise in the NIH ranks. "Think positively," Mr. Mills admonishes.
"Never look down at anybody or anything. Never use the words, 'I can't,' and repeat the following to yourself every day: I can do it . . . I am doing it . . . damn it, it's done!"
NIAID Expands lnternat'I Health Efforts, Seeks To Link U.S., Foreign Investigators
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is expanding its efforts in international health by assisting research centers in developing countries and by encouraging and strengthening scientific linkages between the U .S. and foreign investigators.
These new efforts will consist of two interrelated activities: International Program Projects Grants and International Exploratory/Developmental Research Grants.
The programs will emphasize research related t o medical problems important to developing countries. NIAID is interested in research on tropical diseases involving medical protozoology, entomology, helminthology, malacology, mycology, virology, and bacteriology.
Emphasise Infectious Diseases
Special attention will be given to infectious diseases, including those emphasized in the WHO Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases- malaria, schistosomiasis, filariasis, trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and leprosy.
However, the program does not exclude other disease categories equally important to developing countries.
International Program Projects Grants will be aimed at establish-
DR. JACOBS (Continued from Page J)
tional conferences and administers international exchange fellowship, senior international fellowship, and scholars-in-residence programs.
Dr. Jacobs replaces Dr. Milo D. Leavitt, Jr., who has been Director of the Center since 1968. Dr. Leavitt has assumed duties as assistant for medical program development and evaluation with the National Institute on Aging, carrying out a long-standing desire on his part to become involved in medical programs on aging.
Dr. Leavitt has just returned from an in-depth survey of 10 departments of geriatric medicine in the United Kingdom to identify institutions having potential for research and postdoctoral opportunities of interest to NIA.
An internationally known parasitologist, Dr. Jacobs was a research parasitolr,gist at NIH, serving as chief of several sections and laboratories from 1956 to 1964.
Held Previous Posts
He was acting scientific director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for 1 year before becoming scientific director of the Division of Biologics Standards-now the Bureau of Biologics in the Food and Drug Administration.
From 1967 to 1969 he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Science
ing a program in International Collaboration in Infectious Diseases Research that will link u.s·. institut ions to research units at over-seas sites.
These grants, which will replace the current International Centers for Medical Research, focus on infectious diseases and the immunology of those diseases.
A major portion of the research must be conducted in a foreign country, and it must be relevant to one or more important health problems of that country.
Through the International Exploratory/Developmental Research Grants, NIAID will be encouraging additional linkages between U .S. and foreign investigators with common research interests in infectious diseases and immunology.
Considered under this arrangement will be receipt of individual research proposals from a U.S. investigator involving collabo·ration with a foreign affiliate at an overseas site.
Purpo~e of the collaborntion will be to identify and investigate common areas of interest in infectious diseases and the immunology of these diseases. However, these grants are not intended to provide Jong-term support but, rather, to encourage the development of program project grants.
Prospective applicants for one or both of the International Programs may submit a letter of intent for program information on or before Nov. ), 1978. However, this letter is not a prerequisite to submitting a grant proposal.
Application kits containing a special format with accompanying instructions for each of the new programs are available from Dr. Earl S. Beck, NIAID, Room 749, Westwood Bldg., Bethesda, Md. 20014.
Deadline for receipt of proposals has been set for Jan. 15, 1979.
in the Office of t he Secretary, HEW, returning to NIH in 1969 as Assistant Director for Collaborative Research. In 1972 he was named Associate Director for such research.
For his studies on toxoplasmosis and other infections, he has received the Washington Academy of Sciences Award for Scientific Achievement in the Biological Sciences, the Arthur S. Flemming Award, and the Henry Baldwin Ward Medal of the American Society of Parasitologists.
Dr. Jacobs received his B.A. degree from Brooklyn College and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from George Washington University.
THE NIH RECORD
Environmental Chemical Effects on Mother's Milk Will Be Studied
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, in cooperation with two North Carolina hospitals, has begun the first study of its kind in the United States to determine whether the presence of environmental chemicals in mot her's milk has any effects on the growth and development of children from birth to 6 months.
The 2-year epidemiologic study was developed jointly by Drs. Walter J. Rogan and Beth Gladen of the Biometty Branch along with Dr. James McKinney, head of the Chemistry Section, all at NIEHS.
Earlier studies have found varying amounts of environmental chemicals in the breast milk of U.S. mothers, but whether these chemicals, particularly the polychlorinatcd biphenyls (PCB's), have any effect on nursing children has never been studied directly.
Currently pa rticipating in t he study are Wake Medical Center, Raleigh, and Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, N.C. A third North Carolina hospital will soon be added.
Each mother who enrolls in the study as a volunteer will initially be interviewed concerning her general health and eating patterns during pregnancy and asked to supply a sample of the milk or formula that the baby is fed.
Measure Contaminants
Contaminant levels will be measured in placenta, cord blood, and the mother's serum at the time the baby is delivered. The children will be evaluated serially over the first 6 months of life with particular attention paid to their growth and development , and breast milk or formula will be collected.
Prior to leaving the hospital, each infant will be given a Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment, and at 6 months, a Bayley Scales of Development will be administered. Data on bottle fed and breast fed infants will be compared, and dose-response relationships will be estimated.
Data from the study will be analyzed at NIEHS after chemical analyses are performed under contracts at laboratories in Wisconsin and California.
Dr. Rogan said, "We know from earlier studies that the milk of mothers in the United States contains varying amounts of environmental pollutants, including PCB's, DDT, and DDE.
"All of these agents are toxic to some degree. However, there has never been a study designed to compare the amount of such compounds ingested by breast fed babies and their bottle fed contemporaries. Also, the question of transplacental exposure has not been explored adequately."
J uly 12, 1978 Page 5
Limited Copies Available: Workshop Proceedings On Sugar Substitutes
The proceedings of an international workshop to evaluate sugar substitutes which do not cause tooth decay are now available.
The conference was supported by a grant from t he National Caries Program of. the National Institute of Dental Research to Dr. James H. Shaw of the H arvard School of Dental Medicine.
Reconu11e11d Future Research
After 23 scientific reports were presented and discussed--on subjects ranging from the role of sugar in nuttition and tooth decay, and sweet perception and its influence on food selection, to SUj!"ar 's varied uses in commercial food preparation and the economics of the international sugar marketthe participants formed task forces and made recommendations for future research and action.
Publish Consensus
The published recommendations represent the consensus of the task forces, mad~ up of participants from Government, industry, and health and research groups. The diversity of backgrounds meant that not all recommendations were unanimous.
The recommendations included: • That snack foods manufactured
with suga,· content carry a warning label stating that frequent use of the product between meals may be detrimental to dental health
• That food and beverage labels should state the total amount of sugar in the product
• That research be conducted to identify the most cariogenic foods and ways to reformulate them to reduce cariogenicity
• That the food industry develop noncariogenic snacks
• That nutrition counseling and other techniques be tested to see how they affect eating patterns and tooth decay incidence
• That studies be undertaken on mechanisms of sweet taste and perception
• That a test system be developed for determininl!' cariogenicity more quickly and reliably than animal tests now used.
The proceedings, edited by Dr. Shaw of Harvard and Dr. Gerassimos G. Roussos of NIDR, appeared as a special supplement to the Feeding, W eight, and Obesity Abstracts.
A limited number of copies are available from the NIDR Office of Scientific and Health Reports. In quantity, the book can be purchased for $15 a copy from Information Retrieval , Inc., 1911 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Va. 222.02.
Two NCI Staff Groups Receive Awards For Extraordinary Service and Support
L to r, front row: NCI de puty director Dr. Guy R. New ell ; NCI Director Dr. Arthur C. Upton; and acting associate director, OIA , Dr. Gregory T . O'Conor. Back row, I to r, ICRDB awardees : Mary Cinkan, Elaine Campbell , Kathleen McManus, Donna Wicker, Dr. Dianne Tingley, Richard Amacher, with Dr. John Schne ider, ICRDB director. Als , receiving awards, but not present, w ere Samue l Tancredi and Barry Goldfarb.
NCI Directo1· D1·. Arthur C. Upton recently presented group cash awards at two ceremonies honoring the staffs of the International Cancer Research Data Bank and the Mail and Files Unit, both in the Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute.
3 - Year Effort Cited
The nine recipients of the ICRDB award were cited for the extraordinary amount of work performed for the 3-year period from April 1, 1974, shortly after the ICRDB was established and placed in the Office of International Affairs.
"The high level of performance required for this rapid initial implementation of the ICRDB plans by a very small staff was an outstanding accomplishment which significantly exceeded expectations and normal work loads.
Praises Dedication
"I wholeheartedly support and recommend this cash award to a dedicated and effective cadre of outstanding NCI employees,'' Dr. Gregory T. O'Conor, associate director for International A ff airs and di rector of the Division of Cancer Cause and Prevention, wrote in his
recommendation for the award. The ICRDB's primary objective
is to promote the exchange of information on cancer research throughout the world.
The statement in support of the group award to six members of the Bldg. 31 Mail and Files Unit pointed out that there had been a "dramatic increase in workload" since 1974, often requiring long hours of overtime.
Often Work Overtime
"Despite the fact that no additional positions have been allocated to this unit, the group of six employees has managed to keep pace with daily mail deliveries, classifying of materials, and filing requests. They have worked overtime many evenings and weekends to prevent a filing backlog, often at a sacrifice of their personal plans," NCI administrative officer Thomas L. Kearns said in the awards statement.
Others Also Complime nt
He also cited the many compliments the Mail and Files Unit has received from other NCI offices , attesting to the unit's reliability and efficiency.
Front row , I to r: Calvin B. Baldwin, NCI executive officer, and NCI Director Dr. A rthur C. Upton. Back row, J to r, Mail and Files awardees: Ceorge Miller, Mary Goins, Ele nora Barnett, Juanita Standard, Allison Lum, and James Ridgely, su pervisor.
Page 6 THE NIB RECORD
SUMMER COMES TO NIH • • • By Lisa Carrigan
Have you noticed some new faces lately? Probably, because NIH employs approximately 700 young people in t he Summer Employment Program. Different criteria are used to select participants in nine separate youth programs.
Summer employment at NIH is designed to give young adults valuable experience as well as a chance t o learn about Government activities.
According to Joyce Schools, NIH Summer Employment coordinator, approximately 4,000 applications were received for 700 summer employment positions this year. Science-related jobs are t he most sought after, and the ratio of applications received is large.
Recent policy has emphasized hiring minority, disadvantaged, and handicapped st udents.
The process of procuring summer employment by the Federal Government begins during the early part of the year.
Occasionally students wander into the NIH employment office in J une and ask for a summer job. They are told to try again next year and not to miss any deadlines.
Procedures for the Federal Summer Internship Program begin in November. Colleges and universities have until Nov. 5 to respond if t hey are interested in participating.
The name of the school is then placed on a list. Government agencies, departments, and branches choose schools from which they would like to receive applications. Not just any student in a chosen school may submit an applica-
Jody Hochberg agonises over the mailbox, checking to see if his rejection or acceptance notice has yet been delivered. For the past 2 summers he has received acceptance notices. A graduate student from N.Y. Stale University, working under Dr. Ted Theodore of NIAID, he is labeling compounds which cross cell membranes. "The job I have now is exactly what I want to be doing when I have finished with my education," he says.
tion. Applicants are normally matched to jobs which will give t hem exper ience in their major fields.
During J anuary a special nominating committee or board selects two nominees. E ach university or school may use its own nominat,. ing procedures.
The names of the nominees and other pertinent data are forwarded to t he agency or office where a summer Job is available in the nominee's major field. The decisions are made in the spring.
For another program, t he Civil Ser vice Summer E mployment Examination applicants must file by Jan. 27 and take t he test on a specified Saturday in February. Candidates must score above 70 to be considered for employment.
Students wishing to be employed at NIH must send an application along with the test scores directly to the NIH personnel office. Here the student's name is placed on a roster according to his/ her score on the Summer Emp loyment Examination. Clerical positions are filled from this list.
Some of this year's NIH summer e mployees demonstrate many of the necessary ste ps an applicant must take before gaining e mployme nt at NIH. Here, Federal Summer Intern Lisa Carrigan circles a deadline on the calendar. Most of the summer jobs require that early deadlines be met. Ms. Carrigan is a junior at The Ceorge Washington University. Presently she is working in the Office of Communications, 00.
Doria Law (I) and Craig Sakai, both sophomores at the University of Maryland, say it's easy to get lost on one's first day of work. Mr. Sakai is majoring in biochemistry, and Ms. Law's field is biology. Both work for NEI as clerk typists. Last yea r Ms. Law wanted to work for the Federal Covernment, but she took the wrong test. This year she took the Summer Employment Examination and was called for a job while she was studying for final exams.
!I
After finding the right place, more forms must be filled out. Joyce Schools, the Summer Employment coordinator (I ) , hands focelyn De Laine some NIH literature. Ms. Delaine, who attends the University of the District of Columbia, is majoring in special education. She is a clerk typist in the Stay-inSchool program.
Photos by Heather Banks
July 12, 1978 Page 7
BRINGING 700 NEWCOMERS
I
Transportation is needed, so Shauna Johnson (I) and Jacqueline Taylor (r) check the carpool locator board. Both are Stay-in-School students working in the Photo Services department as photo assistants. Ms. Johnson is majoring in media technology at the University of the District of Columbia. Ms. Taylor is a Howard University student majoring in physical therapy.
A program for professional school students, the Commissioned Officers Student Training Extern Program (COSTEP) is a year-round program, with three time segments in which a student can gain experience in his/her field.
The summer portion, May through August, requires applications to be in by Feb. 1. The September to December segment has a May 1 deadline; and for January to April, Oct. 1 is the deadline.
This summer more than 475 students have been placed across the country in various PHS divisions. In the past, more than 14 percent of the summer COSTEP employees have returned to PHS work upon graduation from professional school. Students from medical, dental, and veterinary schools are accepted as well as students who have completed 2 years of study in pharmacy, therapy, dietetics, nursing, sanitary ~cience, medical records administration, or engineering. Also, students enrolled in masters or doctoral programs in health-related fields are eligible for COSTEP.
Approximately 100 COSTEP students are employed at NIH this summer.
Filling out SF-171 is a project for a long a~ernoon. /on Meisner, a senior physics major at Yale University, is now working under Dr. William Hagins in NIAMDD on vision oriented research. This is his fifth summer working at NIH. "I've learned as much working here as I have in any of the classes I've taken at school," he says.
Settling in to do some research is COSTEP employee Michael Neremberg. After completing his first year at Yale University School of Medicine , Mr. Nere mberg is working with Dr. Alfred Singer of NCI observing immune cell inte ractions in antibody production. A native of Wilmette, Ill. , he did his undergraduate work at The University of Chicago. This is his first summer at NIH.
The Stay-in-School Program assists many Washington area students in continuing their education by allowing them to work 16 hours per week during the school year and full time in t he summer. Many students between 16-21 start as summer aids and become Stay-inSchool employees during the school year.
The Junior Fellowship P rogram is comprised of students who are graduating from high school in the spring. Once selected, the fellows can continue their summer employment in subsequent summers, rotating to different agencies each year.
The Graduate Program is an aid for recruiting temporary, professional full-time employee.;. Positions in this program arc in scientific or analytical areas.
The Handicapped Students Program provides job, for the mentally retarded or severely handicapped students. They hold positions in clerical, technical, or professional areas.
Senior high school students are eligible to work at NIH through a program administered by American University. NIH selects students from a list of eligibles compiled by American University. The program is financed by contributions from the Washing-ton Academy of Sciences, the National Space Club, and the Chemical Society of Washington.
All of the programs for summer employment are intended to educate students and offer them experience they could not find in a classroom.
Marilyn Yick works in the personnel office as a clerk typist Stay-in-School student. Ms. Yick has just graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and will attend The George W ashington University in the fall. From her part- time experience at NIH during the· school year, Ms. Yick says, " I've learned how things operate in a Government agency."
Page 8 July 12, 1978
CLINICAL NUTRITION CONFERENCE PROJECTION (Continued from, Page 1)
Dr. J . Michael McGinnis, HEW Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and chairman of the HEW Nutrition Coordinating Committee, chaired the second day's proceedings on the Federal, Congressional, and Consumer Aspects of Nutrition Research and Education.
Concur in Need for Studies
As a Projection for the 1980's, the subtitle of the conference, the participants concurred that the greatest promise for solution to nutrition-related diseases and improved health will be in fundamental studies concerning t he absorption, metabolism, and mechanism of action of nutritional factors, the biological control of such processes, and the identification of as yet unknown nutrients and their metabolites.
Of equal importance will be investigations into the interaction of nutrition with stress, disease, hormones, imbalance of nutrients, drugs, and other environmental factors.
Members of the consumer panel challenged the role of the scientific community in raising the "QI"questioning intellect--of the American public about nutrition.
Billions Spent on Advertising
They noted the billions of dollars spent on food advertising and the attendant "misnutrition" as well as malnutrition evident in the U.S.
Consumers should have an input in determining nutrition research priorities, but they must not forget that nutrition is a complex and difficult science, cautioned Kristen McNutt of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Johanna Dwyer, Director of the Francis Stern Nutrition Center, chided the bench scientists for adopting attitudes ranging from intellectual humility ("we don't know anything") to superior understanding ("too difficult to explain").
They should rather adopt a "tell it like it is" attitude, educating the consumer and involving him in the research process ("here's what we know, here's what we don't know").
Amplify Con$umer Ideas
Chaired by Chris Hitt of the Senate Nutrition Subcommittee, the Congressional staff panel amplified the thoughts of the consumer advocates. Scientists have the option of becoming more involved in educating and informing Congress and the public how nutrition research dollars are spent and what should be established as nutrition research goals and priorities.
Failing that option, the federallysupported scientific community may find itself with dwindling influence on the future direction of nutrition
research. Present research as reviewed by
the six panels covered the evolvin g concepts of clinical nutrition.
Significant developments in the area of genetic disease and nutrient interaction include elucidation of the defect in the control mechan isms regulating cholesterol biosynthesis in familial hypercholesterolemia, defects of transport mechanisms resulting in a higher than normal requirement for a nutrient, and defects in binding affinity of an enzyme for a coenzyme resulting in a higher than normal requirement for a vitamin.
Question Biochemical Differences
An important question in nutritional science is in the area of biochemical differences, either inborn or environmentally induced. Detecting such differences and using nutrition to overcome many of the detr imental effects offers a clear opportunity for improving health.
As demonstrated by the panelists, nutrition can irrevocably affect developmental processes.
For example, undernutrition during early life can permanently reduce the number of brain cells, whereas overnutrition may lead to increased numbers of fat cells with consequent predisposition to obesity throughout life.
Researchers are far from knowing all there is to know, and additional nutrients or nutrition-related factors are still being discovered. Additional trace elements are being found to be essential for growth and well-being.
Anticipate Clinical Applications
The clinical applications of these discoveries can be anticipated. An example is the recent discovery of a dihydroxy metabolite of vitamin D which functions as a honnone in the control of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. It is now being utilized in the treatment of bone diseases.
The Conference found that the status of nutrition research remains an urgent and complex situation.
As Senatoi· Henrv Bellmon of Oklahoma observed in his opening address, "Most of us do not have the luxury of waiting for a decade or two before decidin_g what to eat."
And yet, as Dr. Rene Dubos of Rockefeller University stated in his keynote speech, "Biological and social factors inhibit the definition of an ideal diet for the average person. . . . Each person has nutritional requirements as unique as his fingerprints."
Afraid To Assert Yourself? Call 496-2738
Employee Assistance Program
A Las Vegas, Nev. , television host ( I) interviews Drs. Sarah C. Kaiser and Ceorge Kih:es of NIAMDD's Digestive Disease and Nutrition Program about research advances. The two program directors appeared on the ABC station after being awarded Certificates of Special Recognition from the American Castroenterological Association during Digestive Disease Weck.
Proceedings of Workshop Concerning Blood Plasma Fraction Studies Issued
A new publication, Proceedings of the International Workshop on Technology for Protein Separation and Improvement of Blood Pla,qm.a Fractionation, DH"RW Publication No. (NIH ) 78-1422, is now available.
These published proceedings are a result of a workshop held in Reston, Va., Sept. 7-9, 1977.
Workshop Jointly Sponsored
The workshop was jointly sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; Bureau of Biologics, FDA; Fogarty International Center; and Bureau of Community Health Services, HSA.
International interest in technolo_gical advances in plasma fractionation was demonstrated by the attendance of representatives from 19 other countries.
This workshop represents the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources initiative to address a national need, mandated by Congress, to support the study of fractionation of blood and clinical investigation of plasma fractions, including research on the use of blood products and management of blood resources.
Consider 5 Main Topics
Participants in the workshop addressed five main topics: 1) biochemical engineerin_g studies, 2) assessment of innovative methods in plasma fractionation, 3) a prospective survey of new or improved proteins for potential cl inical use, 4) a survey of new methods of protein separation with potential for large-scale applications, and 5) regulatory, safety, and quality issues.
This 561-pal:!e publication is available at $6.75 from the Super-
THE NIH RECORD
Louretta Doherty Ends 18 Years at NIH; Leaves Staff Fond Memories
Louretta Doherty, for many years secretary t o the di1·ector of the Division of Extramural Affairs, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, has retired after 18 years at N IH.
She came to the campus in 1960 as a grants a ssistant with the Division of Research Grants Research Grants Review Branch, then worked as a fellowships assistant in its Ca reer Development Review Branch before joining the NHLBI staff in 1963.
Over the years, the consistent excellence of her work has earned Ms. Doherty numerous commendations, including a Superior Performance Award.
Those who have known or worked with her will remember most fondly the courtesy, pleasant disposition, and sense of humor that never seemed to desert her, even dul'ing
The box Ms. Doherty is opening contains a chime clock--one of the gifts she received at the recent reception in her honor attended by friends and co-workers.
memorable flaps or on dark, rainy :v!onday mornings at \Vestwood.
A native of Joliet, Ill., Ms. Doherty received her undez·graduate training at DePaul University, Chicago, and Northern Illinois University. She holds a law degree from DePaul, passed the Illinois Bar examination, and was licensed to practice law in Chicago.
She intends to spend the summer "just loafing around," an indulgence she seldom permitted herself at NIH. This fall, presumably well rested and refreshed, she plans to do some traveling. But no 10 countries in 10 days for her: slow and easy would seen. to be her new speed.
intendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, stock number 017-043-00087-1.
Everybody complains of his lack of memory, but nobody of his want of j udgment.-La Rochefoucauld
THE NIH RECORD
Wayne Levillain Retires; Biolab Technician Recalls Years of Change at NIH
After 38 years at NCI, Wayne Levillain leaves with fond memories and assurances that he will be missed.
When Wayne Levillain was a boy in Washington, D.C., his family decided he was wasting his time in school; he'd be better off with a job. He hecame one of a crew known as the "bull gang," general helpers in the animal rooms of the old National Cancer Institute labs down on 25th and E Streets.
At the end of June 1978, Mr. Levillain retired as a biolab technician in a descendant of the same lal>-the Division of Cancer Biology and Diagnosis' Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Thirty-eight years had elapsed.
In the course of those years, Mr. Levillain became a surgical technician during his only years away from ~IH, a 4-year stint during World War II with the Army Medical Corps at O'Reilly General Hospital, Springfield, Mo.
Became Interested in Education
He acquired a new interest in education and took the equivalent of a degree in coUege-level science courses.
He worked under the renowned Dr. Walter Heston, whose DRS mouse classification system is now used across the United States. With Dr. Heston, who retired from NCI in 1975, he assisted in developing prototype equipment used in gel electrophoresis.
The changes that come inevitably with increasing size have been those most notable to Wayne Levillain. "T remember when a little building known as Top Cottage stood where the Clinical Center is now. Everyone in Cancer used to get together for dances and parties. Work used to get done by calling someone on the phone. Now it takes paperwork and a month's t ime."
Not that he became one of the crotchey old-timers, grumbling about the past. "I never met anyone who knew more about how NIH
July 12, 1978
The American Type Culture Collection Develops Resources With NIH Support
( Second of a Two-Part Series)
As noted in the previous issue of the NIH Record (June 27, 1978), "the most diverse collection of reference micro-organisms, viruses, and cell cultures in the world is maintained, authenticated, and perserved at the American Type Culture Collection in Rockville."
New resources arc being developed by the ATCC.
A new Lung Cell Resource Facility is being developed by the A TCC Cell Culture Department with support from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. An advisory committee of experts has been organized by the A TCC to assist in this effort.
The central goals of the program are to develop, char acterize, expand, and distribute populations of lung cells for use in studies of lung biochemistry, function , development, and/or pathophysiology.
Emphasis is on cell Jines der ived from normal and abnormal (but n ot cancerous) lung tissues of the human and various laboratory animals.
This is part of an over-all ATCC research program on the development and study of functional types of cultured cells.
Test Cells for NfH
Remaining supplies (low-passage) of the human diploid lung cell line, WI-38, have also been deposited with the A TCC. The cells have been characterized, expanded, and tested for NIH under contract with the Division of Research Retources.
Special low-passa~e lots are available for vaccine purposes through an NIH Use Committee. Characterized lots at slightly higher passage levels are available for research purposes.
Other human diploid lines available for general distribution are MRC-5 and IMR-90.
works," remarked Dr. Michael GotLesman, of the LMB. "And he knows because he's on good, cordial working terms with everyone here. His flexibility when the lab changed emphasis from animal genetics to molecular structure was most impressive. We'll miss him."
A sentiment echoed without reservation by his chief, Dr. Ira Pastan, and others. "He's reliable and conscientious and he will definitely be missed," Dr. Pastan noted.
Mr. Levillain has the future pretty clearly mapped out. "My wife Virginia and I plan to do a lot of traveling. I've read about the Florida Keys and the Grand Canyon, and now we hope to see them." And, he adds, he plans to do a lot of fishing, the kind of fishing that has won h im trophies in the past. "You can't leave that out."
The ATCC also characterizes, stores, and distributes additional diploid lines from the human, monkey, and rabbit for the Bureau of Biologics, F ood and Drug Administration.
The Cell Culture Department is also engaged in the development of new systems for the culture of pancreatic epithelium for the National Cancer Institute, and recently the A TCC was awarded a contract by NCI for the development a nd characterization of differentiated cells from various leukemias, bone marrow, and other tissues.
Conducts Virological Assays
Virological assays on some of the derived cells will be carried out in collaboration with the Virology Department.
The ATCC has established a Cell Source Information Bank to provide information to investigators about potential sources for specialized types of cultured cell strains and lines. The role of the CSIB is solely that of a clearing house and referral service.
Information on the sources and unique characteristics of specialized cells is currently available only upon direct inquiry but may be developed into published fo1·m at a later date.
The ATCC Virology Department is incorporating into its collection the viral reagents formedy distributed by the Research Resources Branch of the National Institute
This electron micrograph typifies some of the functional types of cells sought in lung tissue culture lines for the new Lung Cell Resource Facility at the ATCC. The photograph shows macrophages ( M ) , type I pneumocytes ( I ) , type 2 pneumocytes ( 11 ) , fibroblasts (Fl, and seve ral additional cell types.
Page 9
Dr. Alan A. Schreier Is New Grants Associate
Dr. Alan A. Schreier has joined the NIH Grants Associates Program for a year of training in health science administration.
The Grants Associates Program prepares biomedical and behavioral scientists for roles as health science administrators.
Dr. Schreier graduated from the University of Chicago in 1967, receiving a B.S. de-
Dr. Schreier gree in physics. He then went to the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned a Ph.D. degree in biophysics in 1973 with a thesis on nucleic enzymology and structure.
Before coming to NIH, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University Medical School's department of biochemistry where he studied protein structure and motility from 1973 to 1977.
He has also worked in an industrial R & D environment, with the Nicolet Technology Corporation of Mountain View, Calif., where he participated in the development of new NMR spectrometer systems, 1977-78.
He is the recipient of an NIH Predoctoral Fellowship, an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship, and an NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship.
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Initially, this will include 4 major
groups of viruses (68 enteroviruses, 31 adenoviruses, 90 rhinoviruses, and 70 arboviruses) plus their respective homologous antisera. As the reagents are being accessioned the A TCC is performing assays for potency.
The A TCC will store, catalogue, and distribute the reagents and, when necessary, will replenish depleted stocks or stocks with low viability. This is being carried out with contract support from NIAID.
A program to establish a complete reference collection of DNA and RNA oncogenic viruses is also being carried out by the Virology Department with contract support from NCI.
Representative lots of the oncogenic viruses supplied to researchers by the Office of Program Resou1·ces and Logistics of the Viral Oncology Program are being thoroughly characterized by the ATCC and are being preserved as reference reagents for eventual distribution.
Further information about the A TCC resources can be secured from Dr. Richard Donovick, Dir ector, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Md. 20852, telephone (301) 881-2600.
Page 10 July 12, 1978
K3YGG Provides Aid in Real, Simulated Emergencies; 'In Vitro Carcinogenesis' Makes 805 Radio Contacts During 24-Hour Exercise And 4 Technical Reports
During a 24-hour period beginning at 2 p.m. on June 24, the NIH Radio Amateur Club demonstrated its ability to provide emergency communicat ions by participating in the annual American Radio Relay League field day.
From a location in the Multi Level Parking garage, and powered by a portable gasoline generator furnished by the Grounds Maintenance and Landscaping Branch, DES, 13 club members operating in shifts were able to make 805 individual contacts-a rate of more than one every 2 minutes.
The 2, 10, 15, 20, and 80 meter FCC-authorized amateur radio frequencies were used, and both CW (code) and phone (voice) modes were employed.
Also Monitor CB
As a further demonstration of capabilities in an emergency situation, area police, fire, and CR channels were monitored.
Contacts were recorded from 45 of the 48 continental United States, five Canadian provinces including Newfoundland, several ships at sea, and one contact each in the South Pacific, Mexico, and Great Britain.
Began in 1963
In the 15 years since the inception of NIHRAC, the club has dealt with real, not ju5t simulated emergencies.
In fact, just after NIHRAC began operating K3YGG in 1963-with partia l support from the P lant Safety Branch and from the NIH West Africa Research Unit-Dr. Victor Zeve in Ghana sought help in obtaining medical supplies a nd equipment.
Emergency in Africa
Through NIHRAC, Dr. Zeve, with h is own 2-way radio equipment to offset the lack of telephones, contacted colleagues at NCI concerning medicines needed to aid his sort, suffering from an asthmatic condition.
Later, a schedule of twice-weekly contacts was set up, greatly reducing the time lag in obtaining essential supplies and equipment for the researchers then in Africa.
Since that time cardiograms have been transmitted, numerous requests for special medicines and treatment have been received and refcne<l to appropriate sources.
OSCARS Boost Range
Eight OSCARS (Orbital Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio) have been launched by NASA, and two remain active, greatly extending the range of broadcast and reception.
About half of the visitors to the field day operations were CB'ers, contacted on their own frequencies, who expressed interest and stopped by. Beginner's license exams can
Dr. William Hook inspects the portable antenna located atop the Multi Level Parking garage.
With an aerial lift, better known as a cherry-picker , loaned by the Shops Branch, Division of Engineering Services, extra support was provided for high frequency wire antennas and a VHF antenna.
Taking the first shift at the start of the 24-hour field day are NIHRAC members (I to r) Leonard Aberbach, Pat Silva, Dr. Robert Silva, and Dr. Victor Zeve.
be g iven by mail. Visitors are welcome at the club's
regular meetings in Bldg. 10, Room B2-N104, at noon each Thursday. Call Leonard Aberbach, 496-4131, for further information.
Now Available at NCI Availability of a report, In Vitro
Carcinogenesis, was recently announced by the National Cancer Institute.
The report provides a gu ide to the literature, recent advances, and procedures for short term studies of carcinogenesis ( cancer causation) in laboratory systems.
The publication is based on presentations made at the seminar and workshop held at t he Given Institute of Pathobiology, University of Colorado in Aspen, July 18-23, 1976.
In Vitro Carcinogenesis is one of the series of Technical Reports published by the Institute's Carcinogenesis Testing Program. Copies are available from the Office of Cancer Communications, NCI, Bethesda, Md. 20014.
The program has also recently published reports on animal tests of four ~ompounds for carcinogenicity.
Used in Dyes, Explosives
An ingredient in explosives and an intermediate in dye manufacture, 2,4-dinitrot oluene, was given in feed to mice and rats for 78 weeks.
According to the report from NCI, 2,4-dinit rotoluene caused ben ign tumors in male and female rats. The benign tumors were not considered a sufficient basis for establishing carcinogenicity, however.
The test produced no evidence of carcinogenicity of the compound in mice.
A naturally occurring nitro chemical found in plants, nuts, and fungi, 3-nitropropionic acid, was given by stomach tube to rats and mice for periods between 104 and ll0 weeks.
The NCI report indicated that 3-nitropropionic acid was not car cinogenic in female rats or in male or female mice under the test conditions.
In male rats there was an increased occurrence of liver and pancreas tumors, primarily benign, but no conclusive evidence that the chemical was carcinogenic.
Another compound, 1-nitronaphthalene is a chemical intermediate in dye manufacture, and has a variety of other commercial uses. This compound was given in feed to rats and mice for 78 weeks.
NCI reported that 1-nitronaphthalene was not found carcinogenic under the test conditions.
Chloropicl"in, developed as tear gas and cunently used as a n agricultural fumigant in stored grain and soil, was given orally by stomach tube to rats and mice for 78 weeks.
THE NIH RECORD
Symbols in, HEW' s Seal
THE HEW SEAL
Most NIH'ers have seen t he HEW seal many t imes, on stationery, publications, and other materials. But have you ever looked closely at the HEW seal? Do you know what the symbols mean?
The bald eagle stands for the United States. The staff of Aesculapius, at the center, is the accepted symbol for medicine or health. Aesculapius is the god of medicine in classical mythology. T he snake is the symbol of renewal and regeneration, probably because it sheds its skin.
The open book symbolizes education; the surrounding chain represents strength or coordinated welfare.
The Latin motto inscribed on the scroll, Spes Anchora Vitae, means "hope is the anchor of life."
Designed by Sculptor
The designer of the seal was Thomas Hudson Jones, the sculptor who created the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1931. He worked for the Army's Institute of Heraldry at Cameron Station, Va., from 1944 until 1962 and designed sculpture and medals for many agencies and officials. He died in 1969 at the age of 77.
He created the World War II Victory Medal, to which all veterans of the conflict are entitled, and the medal for the President's A ward for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service.
The first HEW Secretary, Ovet a Culp Hobby, submitted the design of the official seal soon after the Department was established in April 1953, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved the design Dec. 17, 1953.
According to an NCI report summary, the bioassay of chloropicrin did not give con clusive evidence for carcinogenicity in mice. In :rats, the test was inadequate because of short survival time of dosed animals.
Copies of these four bioassay r eports on tests by the Institute's Carcinogenesis Testing Program may also be obtained from the Office of Cancer Communications, NCI, Bethesda, Md. 20014.
THE NIH RECORD
DR. BLACK (Continued from Page 1)
with the Montgomel'y County Health Department and as Beauvoir Elem en tal'y School physician.
From 1963 she was a medical officer with the D.C. Department of Public Health. She also organized and operated a sick children's clinic at the Southwest Heal th Center in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Black has been a clinical instructor in pediatrics at G.W.U. since 1950, and in June 1975 received a general alumni association award for 25 years of meritorious service as a member of its faculty.
Since 1966, she has been on the senior advisory staff of D.C. Chil dren's Hospital as well as consultant in pediatrics at Suburban Hospital.
Helen Riches Retires From NIDR; Served As Planning Officer
Helen M. Riches recently retired from the National Institute of Dental l{esearch.
She began her Government career in 1944 as a cryptanalyst, and worked for several year~ in the Department of the Air Force and the Central Intelligence Agency.
Mrs. Riches joined the staff of the Office of Program Planning, NIH, in 1963. In 1964 she transfened to NIDR, and in November 1973 became the Institute's plannin~ officer, a position sh<:? held at the time of her retirement .
Mrs. Riches plans to work as a consultant and to pursue her interests in the arts and human ities.
NIH Visiting Scientists Program Participants 6/12-Dr. Liang-Hsien Eli Hahn,
Taiwan, Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Sponsor: Dr. Kenneth Yamada, NCI, Bg. 37. Rm. 4E16.
6/12-Dr. John L. Plummer, Australia, Laboratory of Pharmacology. Sponsor: Dr. J. R. Bend, NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, N.C.
6/ 18-Dr. Sarah Ben-Or, Israel, Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Branch. Sponsor: Dr. Kevin Catt, NICHD, Bg. 10, Rm. 12N212.
6/ 18-Dr. Jagdish Gulati, United States, Laboratory of Physical Biology. Sponsor : Dr. Richard Podolsky, NIAMDD, Bg. 6, Rm. 110.
6/ 26- Dr. Menashe Ben-David, Israel, Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Branch. Sponsor: Dr. Andreas Chrambach, NICHD, Bg. 10, Rm. 121'212.
6/ 26-Dr. Takahisa Shindo, Japan, Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism. Sponsor: Dr. Kenneth Spring, NHLBI, Bg. 10, Rm. 6N310.
July 12, 1978
Heart Disease Experts Evaluate and Update 1971 Task Force Report
Dr. Fishman 11) and Dr. Levy look over the recommendations made by the recent working group of expert cardiologists on the 1971 Task Force Report.
A working group of cardiovascular disease experts, convened to evaluate and update the Report of the 1971 Task Force on Arteriosclerosis, recently submitted their findings and recommendations to Dr. Robert I. Levy, Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood I nstitute.
Reexamine 1971 Report
Chaired by Dr. Alfred P. Fishman, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the group determined the extent to which recommendations of the 1971 Task Force had been implemented and to evaluate their impact on research and clinical progress toward prevention and control of arteriosclerosi~ and its complications.
The group was asked to decide whether the 1971 i:eport was still timely as a basis for future program planning by NHLBI or should a second task force similar to the first be established to extend or redefine earlier goals and priorities.
The working group noted that the 1971 Task Force had done its job exceptionally well. It had developed sound research strategies for combating a disease nearly ubiquitous among American adults and whose complications, such as heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, and strokes, account for some 85 percent of aJl disability and death from cardiovascular disorders.
Many Task Force recommendations had been put into effect by the Institute, including:
• Initiation of clinical trials to
6/26--Dr. Takashi Uchiyama, Japan, Metabolism B,·anch. Sponso1·: Dr. Thomas A. Waldmann, NCT, Bg. 10, Rm. 4N117.
6/ 26-Dr. Shigekazu Uga, Japan, Laboratory of Vision Research. Sponsor: Dr. Toichiro Kuwahara, NEI, Bg. 6, Rm. 227.
July 26 Is Seminar Nomination Deadline
July 26 is the deadline for B/I/ D Directors' nominations for the 1978-79 Grants Associates Seminar Series.
These weekly seminars, beginning Sept. 18, will cover a wide variety of topics related to extramural programs.
Those intP.rested should forwa1·rl their c.v.'s through their immediate supervisors to their respective B/ I/D Directors.
Directors are asked to select for nomination no more than two nominees by forwarding those c.v.'s with a memo of endorsement to A. Robert Polcari, Executive Secretary, Grants Associates Program, Westwood Bldg., Room 2A-03.
Or. William Raub, Acting Associate Director for NTH Extramural Research and Training, wiJI make the final selection.
ascertain whether modification of certain factors known to increase risk from premature arteriosclerosis could reduce morbidity and mortality.
• Initiation of clinical trials assessing the relative roles of medical and ~urgical treatment in patients with angina pectoris or other clinical manifestations of coronary heart disease.
• Intensification of research seeking- safe, sensitive, non-invasive methods for detecting arteriosclerosis.
• Expansion of research on l!'enetic factors in arteriosclerosis or predisposing conditions.
• Increased research emphasis on mechanisms of blood-vessel injury an<l repair.
• Development of animal models of arteriosclerosis.
• E stablishment of special re~earch and clinical facilities to attack specific ·problems posed by precursors of arteriosclerosis.
• Expansion of research concerned with health education and attitudes.
These efforts have produced numerous research and clinical advances. They have also opened up a variety of promising new avenues for exploration and numerous research opportunities that should be explored.
Need To Redefine Priorities
The working group concluded that the time was ripe for a second task force to help redefine goals and priori tics.
The report, entitled A rferiosc/erosis: The Report of the 1977 Working Group to Review the 1971 Report b11 the NH f.,J Task F'orce on Arteriosclerosis ( DREW Publication No. (NIH) 78-1/\26), is available on request from the Public Inquiries and Reports Branch, NHLBI, Bldir. 31, Rm. 5A-03, telephone 496-4236.
Page 11
Menopause: Topic of TV Simulcast From NIH, S.C. For Public, Professionals
Menopause: An Update was the subject of a live medical presentation via satellite yesterday, July 11, from 5 :30 to 8 p.m., as part of the REACH program (Research, Education, and Community Healt h ).
REACH brings togethet· scientists from NIH and the Medical University of South Carolina to discuss the latest findings in medical research and their implications for a variety of health problems. Monthly programs are planned.
The live telecast, along with videotaped segments, enabled two-way interaction between panelists at NlH and at MUSC.
Viewers were also able to ask questions of panelists via toll-free telephone.
Host-moderators of the program were Dr. Griff T. Ross of NIH and Dr. Estelle R. Ramey, professor of physiolog-y and biophysics, Georgetown University.
Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina p1·esented a taped welcome to the audience.
The first portion of the program, Menopause: What It I s, was seen by the public in South Carolina and southeastern states served by the Southern Educational Communications Association. Panelists included Dr. J. Richard Sosnowski at MUSC, and Drs. Mortime1· B. Lipsett and Stanley Korenman at NIH.
The second portion of the program, for medical audiences, was shown over closed circuit, at 38 member institutions of the Health Communications Network, Division of Continuing Education, Medical U niversity of South Ca1·olina; at the Lister Hill Center, National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Md.
Also, at The Greater Cleveland Hospital Association and t he Ohio Valley Medical Microwave System ( 76 hospitals with 23 receiver sites) ; and other facilities in the 1-1 states served by the Southern Educational Communications Association.
Presentations during the second portion of the prog-ram included:
From NIH: Hormonal Features of the Peri-Menopausal and Menopausal Period (Dr. Stanley G. Korenman) ; and Indications and Risks of E strogen in the Menopause (Dr. Mortimer B. T,ipsett) .
From MUSC: Some Psychologic and Metabolic Aspects of the Climaclerium (Dr. H. Olive r Will iamson); and Endomctrial Carcinoma (Dr. Paul B. Underwood, Jr.).
For further information on the scdes of prog-rams, contact the Division of Continuing Education, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Ave., Charleston, s.c. 29403 (803-792-4431).
Page 12
Dr. Frederic C. Bartter Receives the Koch Award From Endocrine Society
Dr. Frederic C. Bartter, chief of the Nat ional Heart, Lung, and Blood Jnstitute's HypertensionEndocrine Branch, has been named 1978 recipient of the Fred Conrad Koch Award, the highest honor bestowed by The Endocrine Society.
Dr. Bartter was cited for original research in clinical and experimental endocrinology performed
, over the past 35 years. He is internationally known for
his contributions on the role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the regulation of blood pressure; the part played by adrenocortical and pituitary hormones in the maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance; and the roles
Dr. Bartter's extracurricular inte rest in mushrooms, upon which he became an expert, led to his participation in clinical studies of thioctic acid as an antidote for accidental poisoning by a common, potentially deadly species: Amanita phallo ides, also known as "the death c up."
of parathyroid hormone, thyrocalcitonin, and other factors in calcium, phosphorus, and bone metabolism.
Born in Manila, the Philippines, Dr. Bartter earned his B.A. and M.D. degrees at Harvard. He joined the Public Health Service in 1942 as Director of Laboratories for the USPHS Hospital at Sheepshead Bay, N.Y.
He served with the Pim American Sanitary Bureau, then joined the staff of the NIH Laboratory of Tropical Diseases in 1945.
He has headed the NHLBI H}•pertension-Endocrine Branch since 1951, and served as the Institute's clinical director from 1971 to 1976.
During his 36 years with PHS, Dr. Bartter has conducted basic and clinical research in a variety of fields, including biochemistry, tropical medicine, pediatrics, and medicine as well as endocrinology.
In 1962, Dr. Bartter, with Dr. Pacita Pronove and other colleagues, defined a disorder characterized by hyperplasia of reninsecreting cells of the kidney, exces-
J uly 12, 1978
PHS 180th Anniversary Ceremony Features Talks By Califano, Richmond
To celebrate the 180th anniversary of t he Public Health Servicefounded July 16, 1798-a formal ceremony will be held on Wednesday, July 26, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., at the Clinical Center Masur Auditorium, featuring talks by HE°W Secretary Joseph A. Califano, Jr., and PHS Surgeon General Dr. Julius B. Richmond.
All employees are invited to hear Secretary Califano discuss Future Directions of PHS, and Dr. Richmond speak about Highlights of the 180 Years.
Following the ceremony, a reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Naval Officers' Club, National Naval Medical Center.
All are invited to both events, but a reservation and $5 fee are requi red for the reception. The fee and r eservation must be in by July 13. For further information, contact the Administrative Services Center/ OM, 443-2516, in Room 5-77, Parklawn Bldg.
Complex Carbohydrates: July Conf. Considers Role in Bio Recognition
The Role of Complex Carbohydrates in Biological Recognition will be the topic of a conferenr.e July 17-19 in Wilson Hall, Bldg. 1, beginning at 8 :30 a.m.
Thirty speakers from six countries will gather for the 3-day session to review recent advances in the knowledge of complex carbohydrales and their role in such phenomena as hormone actions, toxicity reactions, the immune response, and cellular adhesion.
The conference was organized by Fogarty Scholar-in-Residence Dr. Nathan Sharon and Dr. Victor Ginsburg of NIAMDD. Dr. Sharon comes from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovoth, hrael, where he has headed the biophysics department since 1973.
The conference is being sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Al·thritis, Metabol ism, and Digestive Diseases, the National Institute of Dental Research, and the Fogarty Jnternational Center.
Pre-registration is preferred, and can be made by calling the FIG at 301-496-2516.
sive aldosterone production, and potassium depletion. Now known as Bartter's syndrome, the condition proved to be relatively common once Dr. Bartter's group devised re, liable methods for its detection.
Two Recent Explosions Are Reminder of Need For Safety Practices
Because explosions in two NIH laboratories recently occurred as a result of unsafe handling of chemicals, a thorough review of safety practices by everyone handling chemicals has been suggested.
This recommendation was made by Dr. Rudolf G. Wanner, associate director for Environmental Health and Safety, Division of Research Services.
At the scene of the fh·st explosion, the NIH Fire Department responded to a 2 a.m. call on smoke odor and located the source as a Clinical Center laboratory.
Entrance to the laboratory was delayed. The door lock had been changed and did not yiC>ld to the NIH master key system.
When entrance was finally gained through an escape hatch and a neighboring lab, firemen found a smoldering stack of papel· directly over an exploded refrigerator.
Some of the contents were thrown out; but fortunately, containers with radioactive material and flammable liquid remained undamaged.
Also, exterior windows were broken, and several bottles in an adjoining laboratory were shattered.
The cause of the explosion was a beaker with isopentane residue, stored in the refrigerator 6 hours earlier. An explosive vapor mixture developed inside and detonated, ignited by an electrical spark from the thermostat.
The other explosion occurred during working hours at a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences laboratory. It involved several test tubes containing perchlo1·ic acid and an employee suffered face injuries.
The fume hood was not suitabie for work with perchloric acid. The test tubes were placed near the front edge of the hood without a safety shield.
Safety Glasses Essential
Safety glasses were not worn by the injured employee. Other chemicals were stored in the hood, and one bottle with picric acid was broken.
Since this explosion, Christopher Hunt, NIEHS safety officer, has initiated a system to ensu re safer handling of perchloric acid: the chemical has been placed on a control list and protocol requires pe1·mission for its use.
Only explosion-proof refrigerators are safe for storage of flammables and explosives. Employees handling chemicals should always use safety glasses, shields, and hoods designed for work with toxic, corrosive, and explodable chemi-
TIIE NIii RECORD
Dr. Clarence J. Gibbs has been elected to membership in the Washington ( D.C. ) Academy of Medicine. It is the latest honor for the noted microbiologist who, within the past year, has received the Distinguished Alumni Award in Medical Arts from Catholic University and an honorary doctorate in medicine from the Faculte de Medicine, University of Marse ille, France. Dr. Gibbs, recipient of the DHEW Distinguished Service Awarcf, is deputy chief of the NINCOS l aboratory of Central Nervous System Studies.
Conferees Consider Role Of Saliva in Prevention Of Dental Caries
The National Caries Program, National Institute of Dental Research, sponsored an international conference on the role of saliva in the prevention of dental caries in June at the State University of New York a t Stony Brook.
The conference was unusual in that it pointed out a new direction in dental research- a shift toward dealing with the oral cavity as an ecosystem in which oral bacteria and host factors interact rather than focusing on specific organisms as potentia l agents of oral disease.
Key points evolving from the conference were the recognition that a large amount of exact information about structure and composition of saliva now exists; and that new sophisticated tools and techniques for separating and identifying salivary factors are now available, making it possible to begin to look at the functions of specific salivary components.
Also, two clearly identified compounds in saliva, affecting calculus formation and caries, have now been identified- statherin and sialin.
The proceedings of this conference will be published soon.
cals, according to Dr. Wanner. The Environmental Safety
Branch, DRS, will provide con sultation on the safe handling, storage, and disposal of all chemicals, and is available for assist ance in problem areas.
Dr. Bartter is author or coauthor of more than 300 publications and has received numerous honors and awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal of NIH. * U.S. GOVERNMENT PR INTING OFFICE, 1978 260·901/ 21