January 7, 2002
-more-
Dentists see legacy of discontinued ingredient in patients’ mouths – A new Ohio State study suggests that an old formulation of a brand of dental products may cause potentially precancerous lesions years later. Sanguinarine, a natural anti-bacterial agent, was once a key ingredient in the Viadent line of toothpastes and mouth rinses. Researchers now suspect that it causes the formation of white lesions called oral leukoplakia. While leukoplakia often has no symptoms and may disappear, it sometimes can lead to oral cancer, said Carl Allen, a study co-author and a professor of oral pathology and dentistry at Ohio State University. The study suggests that users of the former Viadent formulation were eight to 11 times more likely to develop leukoplakia than were those who had never used the product. “We're seeing patients who used the old formulation of Viadent develop lesions two, three, four, even five years after they stopped using the product,” he said. Contact: Carl Allen, (614) 292-1256; http://www.osu.edu/researchnews/archive/viadent.htm
OSU Airport implements security improvements – Since September 11, security at commercial airports has been intensified. But the general aviation industry has avoided much of the scrutiny. An occasional news report has labeled general aviation as the next great threat from the sky, but neither the FAA nor Congress has begun to tackle the issue of securing the small facilities. There are roughly 5,000 public-use airports nationwide, many of which are virtually un-manned, un-fenced, and seldom used. Even modest security requirements would doom many of the facilities. The Ohio State University Airport, 2160 West Case Road, is taking a proactive approach and implementing new security measures. Over the next few months, pilots and visitors will see new fencing, gating and door controls around the terminal building, main ramp and main parking lot. Other fencing and gating will be installed around the corporate hangars. Long-term security measures will focus more on personal aircraft areas and the airport perimeter. Contact: Douglas Hammon, airport director, (614) 292-5460.
Diversity Lecture Series focuses on Disability Rights Movement – Jan. 9. Judith Heumann, co-founder of the World Institute on Disability, the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities and Disabled in Action, will present “The History of the Disability Rights Movement,” at 9 a.m. Wednesday (1/9) in the Main Lounge of the Ohio Union, 1739 N. High Street. The lecture series, a component of Ohio State’s Diversity Action Plan, is sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of Academic Affairs. Contact: Frank W. Hale Jr. (614) 688-4255.
Entrepreneurship Spectacular offers help with business start-ups – Jan. 12. Ohio State’s Fisher College of Business offers the Entrepreneurship Spectacular, a day of free seminars for individuals who want to turn a business idea into reality. The Entrepreneurship Spectacular will be held on Saturday (1/12) in Schoenbaum Hall, 210 W. Woodruff Ave. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and sessions run concurrently from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Topics covered by Fisher College faculty and area entrepreneurs include evaluating a business idea, writing a business plan that works, understanding financing and marketing options and discovering valuable resources. Contact: Anna Rzewnicki, Fisher College of Business 614-292-8937, rzewnicki.2@osu.edu
The person listed as Contact will have the best information about the story. Call on our media relations staff for help with any Ohio State story – Elizabeth Conlisk, (614) 292-3040; Randy Dunham, (614) 292-8295; Amy Murray, (614) 292-8385, and Shannon Wingard, (614) 247-6821.