North Carolina State University
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Media Contact: Tim Lucas, NC State News Services, 919/515-3470 or [email protected]
Nov. 3, 1999
A round-up of NC State University research activities, for use by the media as briefs or as background for stories. For more information or copies of full news releases on these research activities, or for help contacting the researchers, contact Tim Lucas, NC State News Services, at (919) 515-3470 or [email protected]. Texts of news releases are accessible electronically via News Services' Web site at http://www.ncsu.edu/news.
Early Onset of Puberty May Be Linked to Environment
A study by researchers at NC State and the University of Missouri at Columbia has found that prenatal exposure to Bisphenol A, a chemical found in baby bottle liners, tin can linings and other products made of soft plastics, can significantly speed postnatal growth and the onset of puberty in female mice. The study was published in Nature. Its findings are relevant to human health, says co-author Andrew Hotchkiss, an NC State doctoral student in zoology, because the amount of Bisphenol A fed to the pregnant mice was within the range humans also could be exposed to through chemical leaching from the soft plastic products we come into contact with every day.
The study is the first ever to document that exposure to such low everyday doses of the chemical, delivered via their mother's food intake, can so dramatically affect the growth and development of fetuses later in life.
Another Reason to Avoid Unnecessary Stress
Research at NC State is shedding new light on a subject most men would rather not discuss: the link between stress and prostate disease. Studies led by Dr. C. Lee Robinette, a veterinary pharmacologist and toxicologist, suggest the culprit could be the hormone prolactin, which is released by the body during stress.
Using lab rats with mild cases of prostatitis -- the medical term for inflammation of the prostate gland -- Robinette has found that stressed-out rodents produce higher than normal levels of prolactin and tend to suffer from much more sustained prostate inflammation than non-stressed rats. This finding could help medical doctors identify contributing factors and develop more effective treatments for adult men who suffer from prostatitis, Robinette says. Results of the study were presented at the Experimental Biology '99 meeting in Washington, D.C., earlier this year.
Bandages Made From Crab Shells
Using a fiber extracted from crab shells, NC State scientists have created a three-layered, biodegradable wound dressing that improves the healing process of third- and fourth-degree burns.
Studies on pig skin show the dressing speeds healing and protects wounds from bacteria and other threats. The research was presented at the American Chemical Society national meeting in August.
The bandage incorporates layers of chitosan -- a natural fiber found in crab shells -- and synthetic polymer compounds under a outer gauze layer. Chitosan's natural antimicrobial and antifungal properties protect the wound and help new skin cells grow, says NC State textile chemist Dr. Sam Hudson. The inner layers eventually are absorbed by the healed skin, while the outer layer, which never comes into contact with tender wounds, can be changed with less pain and scarring.
A Bovine Vaccine That May Benefit Humans, Too
A vaccine developed at NC State for cows suffering from severe diarrhea could one day help AIDS patients, travelers, children at day-care centers and others susceptible to diarrhea outbreaks.
The new vaccine prevents calves from getting bovine cryptosporidiosis, an insidious form of diarrhea that can significantly slow their growth rate and cause sizeable economic losses to cattle growers. The immunization, made of recombinant protein, can be administered to pregnant cows, whose bodies will produce the necessary antibodies. The mothers deliver the antibodies to newborns through colostrum -- the mother's first milk. A study published in the journal Vaccine showed that infected calves fed milk from vaccinated mothers did not develop cryptosporidiosis, as did infected calves that ingested milk from nonvaccinated mothers. NC State has applied for a patent on the vaccine. The lead researcher on the study is Dr. Lance Perryman, a veterinary immunologist.
Keeping Food Safe on the Farm
Long before top sirloin appears on the dinner table and skim milk makes it to the fridge, farmers, food processors and veterinarians must take steps to ensure the safety of food products. A vital resource in their efforts is the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) -- a joint effort of three universities, including NC State. The nation's most comprehensive information source about drug residue in food animals, FARAD explains how approved drugs act in animals and how much time must elapse between when an animal receives a drug and when it safely can be milked or used for food. The databank is directed by NC State veterinary pharmacologist Dr. Jim Riviere and soon will be available for use outside the United States.
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