Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers, working with colleagues in Canada, have found that one or more substances produced by a type of immune cell in people with multiple sclerosis may play a role in the disease's progression. The finding could lead to new targeted therapies for MS treatment. Robert Lisak, M.D., professor of neurology at Wayne State and lead author of the study, said B cells are a subset of lymphocytes - a type of white blood cell - that mature to become plasma cells and produce immunoglobulins, proteins that serve as antibodies. The B cells appear to have other functions, including helping to regulate other lymphocytes, particularly T cells, and helping maintain normal immune function when healthy.

WXYZ's Detroit 2020 selected Wayne State University professor Kami Pothukuchi as their Person of the Week for her efforts at spreading the word about the benefits of a motor city harvest. Every day during the growing season you can find Pothukuchi at the Wayne State University farmers' market. Pothukuchi, an associate professor in urban planning, led the effort to get a Ford grant to establish a comprehensive program called Seed Wayne, which has activities on campus and in the community.

There were few things Christopher Leland loved more than to sit with his students after English class at places near the Wayne State University campus, such as the Cass Café, discussing writing and literature. "They loved him because he was so invested in their work" and because "he was so full of life," said Anca Vlasopolos, professor of English at WSU and a longtime colleague. Mr. Leland, 60, professor of English at WSU since 1990, died July 23 at Detroit Receiving Hospital of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mr. Leland held three Fulbright scholarships and wrote 10 books. Memorial tributes may be sent to the Wayne State University English Department in memory of Dr. Christopher Leland.

Wayne State University researchers are testing a way to determine the status of fetal chromosomes that could lead to healthier outcomes for mothers and their babies. Supported by a two-year, $418,000 grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health, the researchers will capture human fetal cells for genetic study within the first two months of pregnancy using a newly developed, safe, noninvasive retrieval technique similar to a Pap test. D. Randall Armant and Michael P. Diamond, M.D., professors of obstetrics and gynecology in Wayne State's School of Medicine, are the principal investigators of the study. Susan Land, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, is a co-investigator.

Barth Syndrome (BTHS) is a rare and serious genetic disorder that primarily affects males and is passed from mother to son; women who are carriers do not show symptoms of the disorder. Fifty percent of children born to a mother who is a carrier will inherit the defective gene, and all daughters born to an affected man will be carriers. BTHS causes cardiomyopathy, a disorder of the heart muscle. A team of researchers at Wayne State University has received funding from the Barth Syndrome Foundation to test a novel hypothesis that cardiolipin deficiency leads to disruption of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, a series of enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions that forms a key part of aerobic respiration in cells, leading to metabolic defects that have potential to be rescued by restoring TCA cycle deficiencies. Led by Miriam L. Greenberg, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the team hopes to find ways to restore the TCA cycle metabolites that may offer potential new treatments for the disorder.

Michelle Bruner, interim director of Wayne State University's Academic Success Center, comments in a story about teens preparing to head to college. "As students move from high school to college, they should remember that the most successful students are open to strengthening their study skills or learning new strategies," said Bruner.

Clark Park in Detroit became a baseball boot camp for some lucky kids Friday as Detroit was one of three cities chosen this summer where McDonald's is sponsoring youth baseball clinics. Roughly 100 children, mostly Hispanic, were invited to attend. Wayne State University's baseball team was there to teach the kids how to throw, pitch, field, and hit. The college athletes taught the students how to take their game to the next level.

Job growth in health care is spurring universities to create or expand specialized degree or residency programs for both clinical and non-clinical professionals. Oakland University, the University of Detroit Mercy, Walsh College and Wayne State University are among institutions that have seen enrollment rise in certain health care disciplines. These programs appeal both to health care professionals and students desiring a career change. Recent job growth for pharmacists has waned as supply has begun to match demand, said WSU associate professor David Bach, who also works as corporate vice president, pharmacy services, for the Detroit Medical Center. He said job opportunities are increasing for graduates of Wayne State's pharmacy management and pharmacy informatics degrees, which are available as degree and residency programs. "It's important to have dual knowledge because it can help hospitals and physicians optimize care and therapy for their clients, especially in terms of what medications to take and what other factors will impact (the proper) drugs to use," Bach said. Wayne State is looking at developing a dual-degree program for a doctorate in pharmacy coupled with a graduate degree in business administration and/or health services, Bach said.

The Detroit Wayne County Health Authority has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant to bring the Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) to Detroit. The NFP is designed to improve the health of infants by helping first-time parents prepare for childbirth and take care of their children in their first years of development. The NFP, consisting of five registered nurses and a nurse supervisor, will team with the Wayne State University School of Medicine's midwifery program. The NFP plans to work with 125 families from pregnancy through two years after birth.

Wayne State University's College of Nursing has received a $3.4 million grant to fund the C2 Pipeline, a program to help prepare 1,250 high school students for admission to college and careers in health care. The grant, funded by the Michigan Department of Education, will, over five years, offer 50 students at each of five public high schools a 38-week program to improve academic achievement, enhance preparation for college and encourage interest in health careers. The project is sponsored by WSU, the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and the Michigan Area Health Education Center.

Michigan universities are reviewing their reporting policies to avoid potential problems in the wake of the sex abuse scandal that rocked Penn State University. Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant football coach, was convicted in June of sexually abusing 10 boys over 15 years. Sandusky met many of the boys through Penn State-related activities. Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour sent a letter to WSU employees July 16 telling them the university was reviewing the Freeh report and already had initiated a new training program for employees. "It's already clear from reading Chapter 10 on governance," Gilmour said in the letter, "that improvements can be made in some of our functions and in how we report to the board of governors."

The Southeast Michigan Purchasing Managers Index slipped in July to 54.6 from 60.3 in June. A score above 50 indicates an expanding local economy, and the index has been above that for 29 of the past 30 months. "The only individual score consistent with signs of a rebounding economy is the upward trend for employment," Ken Doherty of the Institute for Supply Chain Management said in a news release, referring to one of the components of the overall index. Doherty is a member of the Southeast Michigan chapter of the institute and an assistant vice president for procurement and strategic sourcing at Wayne State University. "Overall, the PMI seems to be trending down to slower growth, which does not portend too well for future growth in southeastern Michigan," said Nitin Paranjpe, an economist and supply chain faculty member at WSU. "For some time, our data were showing that Michigan's economy was doing better than the national economy, but now we are beginning to see this downward trend. The general tone of comments from our survey respondents provides some preliminary evidence of a slowdown, with a focus on Europe, the upcoming presidential election and health care."

Now in its 33rd year, the Detroit Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz festival in the world. This year's main event happens over Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 3. "The festival brings national artists together with the core of the Detroit jazz scene," said Chris Collins, festival artistic director and a woodwind player. "Jazz music is one of the most challenging musical art forms in existence. It's an American art form that grew from traditional African elements, the European music standard and the American concept of blues, art and folk music." Collins is a professional jazz musician and a jazz professor at Wayne State University. After initially performing as a student, he was playing as a professional musician in the festival by 1984.

The Michigan Department of Community Health has unveiled the state's Infant Mortality Reduction Plan, a strategy that includes significant recommendations developed from medical research conducted by the Perinatology Research Branch (PRB) of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. Announced Aug. 1, the plan promotes the adoption of universal cervical length screening by ultrasound and the use of progesterone in women identified as high risk for premature birth. The use of progesterone in women with a short cervix can reduce the rate of preterm birth - the leading factor in infant mortality - by as much as 45 percent, according to research findings published by the PRB. The study, released last year, was conducted at more than 40 centers worldwide. Wayne State was the lead center in the trial, led by Dr. Sonia Hassan, associate dean for maternal, perinatal and child health at WSU.

Craig Fahle spoke with the director of the Wayne State University Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Fred Pearson about the upcoming peace demonstration and news conference on nuclear arms reduction and domestic reconstruction in honor of Hiroshima Remembrance Day on Aug. 6. They also discuss the renewal and continuation of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies with a new emphasis on science, security and peace.

An article further examines why Wayne State University's Police Department recorded a 38 percent reduction in crime between 2008 and 2011. Police Chief Anthony Holt said it's a symbiotic relationship - as crime lessens, residents increase; as residents increase, crime lessens - but "aggressive policing" is really what set the change in motion. The department's effective tactics have led residents and businesses to gain faith in the department. The Wayne State University Police Department patrols a fluctuating 6-mile plus area that spans from 14th in the west to Interstate 75 in the east; and from Mack in the south to Seward in the north. A photo of Holt is included.

Ian Ratcliffe, the president and CEO of Cambridge, Mass.-based Stemgent Inc., the company that bought the tissue-bank business from Detroit-based Asterand plc for $9 million, announced Wednesday that he will retain Asterand's TechTown offices and lab space and the 51 employees who work there. Stemgent will also retain the tissue-bank's small operation in Royston, England. Asterand is the largest and oldest tenant at TechTown, the business incubator affiliated with Wayne State University.

Craig Fahle spoke with Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour about institutional response to crisis and what Wayne State is doing to create a culture of openness in the wake of the child abuse scandal at Penn State University.

Wayne State University School of Medicine researchers, working with colleagues in Canada, have found that one or more substances produced by a type of immune cell in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may play a role in the disease's progression. The finding could lead to new targeted therapies for MS treatment. B cells, said Dr. Robert Lisak, professor of neurology at Wayne State and lead author of the study, are a subset of lymphocytes (a type of circulating white blood cell) that mature to become plasma cells and produce immunoglobulins, proteins that serve as antibodies. The B cells appear to have other functions, including helping to regulate other lymphocytes, particularly T cells, and helping maintain normal immune function when healthy. In patients with MS, the B cells appear to attack the brain and spinal cord, possibly because there are substances produced in the nervous system and the meninges -- the covering of the brain and spinal cord -- that attract them. Once within the meninges or central nervous system, Lisak said, the activated B cells secrete one or more substances that do not seem to be immunoglobulins but that damage oligodendrocytes, the cells that produce a protective substance called myelin.

Patterns of brain injury in babies with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) predict survival and disability in late infancy, according to a study. The researchers also found that children treated by inducing hypothermia shortly after birth are more likely to have a normal brain scan and have significantly fewer areas of brain infarction following treatment than those undergoing usual care. Dr. Seetha Shankaran, Wayne State University professor of pediatrics, and colleagues assessed links between initial brain injury, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and outcomes at 18-22 months in 136 children with HIE enrolled in a randomized study testing the efficacy of hypothermia treatment. Overall, 73 children treated with hypothermia and 63 children in the control group had MRI scans of adequate quality taken by 44 weeks postmenstrual age.