UB Faculty Experts

EXPERT CONTACT : Jonathan Katz, PhD Director of Doctoral Program Department of Visual Studies University at Buffalo 646-241-5241 jonathandavidkatz@gmail.com

Consistently, polls have shown an ever increasing percentage of Americans, especially younger Americans, are in favor of marriage equality for gay men and women.

That North Carolina elected to be on the wrong side of history once again is, sadly, a habit it needs to break.  North Carolinians opposed civil rights for African Americans; they elected Jess Helms and kept putting him in office despite his hateful rhetoric against blacks and gays.

A governor of North Carolina will, in the not too distant future, have to hold a press conference to apologize for this vote.  The habit to disenfranchise others runs deep there and has for centuries, and despite constitutional guarantees of equality, the state's voters continue to pick and choose who will be made "equal."

The President's statement in favor of marriage equality is a game changer.  Active support for him among the left was at best lukewarm and this statement will revitalize the progressive movement at large;  it's import goes far beyond the queer community, because he's finally shown some of that fighting spirit and principled commitment that made him a favorite during his campaign.

Obama's statement, then, is an olive branch to the left.  And he needs us to win again, not just our votes, but our fervor, our door-to-door politicking, our grassroots savvy. We always knew he believed in marriage equality, but we weren't sure on which side his politicalcalculus would come down.  It's great to see he's come out in favor of full equality.

EXPERT CONTACT : Joshua Dyck, PhD Associate Professor of Political Science University at Buffalo (716) 645-8435 jdyck@buffalo.edu

 President Barack Obama's "evolving" position on gay marriage should be understood as a shrewd political move that carries a considerable, but calculated, risk.

The proceeding months will unveil how it pans out, but right now, President Obama and the Democrats are entering uncharted campaign territory.

Over the last 30 years, Republicans have used their positions on social issues to galvanize the electorate and mobilize their base.  Obama's support for marriage equality signals that the President intends to make the 2012 campaign about more than the economy --  he intends to take the fight to the Republican party on the social issue front. 

So far we have seen the Obama campaign characterize Romney and the Republicans as anti-immigrant and anti-woman and his affirmation of his support for gay marriage demonstrates that the President plans to hold Republicans accountable for positions on this issue as well. 

With modest economic growth and some warning signals from the economy, the political environment in 2012 is, and will continue to be, extremely competitive.

In a close election, mobilization of core supporters becomes critical. While the President's evolving position on gay marriage has the potential to help conservatives mobilize voters, this move is clearly aimed at mobilizing many on the left who may feel less excited by Obama's promises of hope and change in 2012 than they were in 2008.

EXPERT CONTACT : John J. Leddy, MD, director and Barry S. Willer, PhD, research director University at Buffalo Concussion Clinic University at Buffalo School Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Leddy: 716-204-3200 Willer:  716-304-6585 leddy@buffalo.edu bswiller@buffalo.edu

John J. Leddy, MD, associate professor and director of the University at Buffalo Concussion Clinic and Barry S. Willer, PhD, professor and the clinic’s research director consider the possibility that former NFL player, Junior Seau, who was found dead on May 2, may have been suffering from concussion-related depression.

What was your response when you first heard about Seau’s death?

UB’s chair of periodontics and endodontics, Sebastian Ciancio, DDS, responded to questions about the American Heart Association’s recent statement that although observational studies support an association between periodontal disease and atherosclerotic vascular disease, they don’t support a causative relationship.

You have been involved in many studies of the relationship of periodontal disease and CVD. What do you say to this claim?

The problem with the press release of the AHA statment is that the press release does not accurately reflect what the statement says. The actual statement is scientifically correct and reports tht there is an assciation between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease but no causal relationship. Periodontal researchers are generally in agreement that there is an association between periodontal disease and cardiovascualar disease but that a cause and effect relationship has not been established. However, the press release is written in such a way as to suggest that there is no association as well as no causal relationship.

It is noteworthy that a large body of research suggests that periodontal disease is linked to cardiovascular disease, independent of shared risk factors. As a matter of fact, the statement by the American Heart Assn. states “ Statistical adjustment for smoking in studies of the association between periodontal disease(PD) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASVD) does not preclude the possibility for residual confounding; however, recent evidence seems to indicate that the observed association between PD and ASVD may be independent of smoking. It has been shown, both in cross sectional and longitudinal studies that PD and ASVD are associated in never smokers as well.”

The press release is also misleading in that it states that “500 journal articles and studies reviewed by the committee didn’t confirm a causative link.”

However the article only addresses data from 79 studies.

What would you like for the public to know about this?

I would like the public to realize that there are a number of studies which show an association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease and in 2009, the editor of the American Journal of Cardiology joined with the editor of the Journal of Periodontology joined together to publish an article Consensus: Periodontitis and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. In that article they state: “It seems reasonable, however, on the basis of current data, to acknowledge that because untreated or inadequately controlled moderate to severe periodontitis increases the systemic inflammatory burden, periodontitis may independently increase the risk for CVD (Cardiovascular Disease).

I am agreement with these editors and their review and summary comments. Therefore I would like the public to realize that there is an association between CVD and periodontal disease and that good oral health is important not only for retaining teeth but also for having an impact on their general health. Studies have not only suggested a relationship between periodontal disease and CVD but also with diabetes severity, respiratory infections, rheumatoid arthritis, and pre-term low birth weight babies. Although proof of a cause and effect relationship has not been clearly established in these conditions, a strong association with these conditions has been demonstrated.

Therefore my advice to the public is to maintain your mouth in as healthy a condition as possible because there is good reason to believe that a healthy mouth is important for a healthy body.

Is there anything you could add?

The best way to have a healthy mouth is by thorough brushing twice daily with an antiseptic toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing twice daily with an antiseptic mouth rinses. Mouth rinses and toothpastes accepted by the American Dental Association for the management of plaque and gingivitis are definitely the most effective on the market and consumers are advised to use these products to get the best value for their oral care expenditures. In addition, professional tooth cleaning and dental examinations are important at least twice a year.

The UB School of Dental Medicine is a valuable resource for our community and new patients are welcome as are subjects interested in being in our many dental studies. Visit our website, at dental.buffalo.edu to learn more about our school, our treatment programs and our research programs.

EXPERT CONTACT : Michael F. Sheridan, PhD Volcanologist, Professor Emeritus of Geology University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences mfs@buffalo.edu Or via Charlotte Hsu at 716-645-4655

Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano, some 40 miles outside Mexico City, has entered a heightened phase of activity. The mountain has been spewing towering clouds of ash and steam since mid-April, putting local residents on alert.

EXPERT CONTACT : Helen Domske Associate Director, Great Lakes Program University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences 716-645-3610 hmd4@cornell.edu

April 28 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, which enables people to drop off unwanted medication at safe locations across the United States.

John Crane, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine
University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
716-829-2676
jcrane@buffalo.edu

EXPERT CONTACT : Amanda Nickerson, PhD Director of the Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education 716-645-3488 nickersa@buffalo.edu

Nickerson is an expert on school crisis prevention and intervention, with a particular focus on violence and bullying. She has edited or authored three books on the topic.

“A tragedy like the shooting at Chardon High School in Ohio often brings about fear, outrage and speculation about who or what was responsible," Nickerson says. "Understandably, schools, parents, the media and the general public try to understand how the senseless deaths could have happened.”

“Despite the high-profile school shootings, schools continue to be among the safest place for children and adolescents to be," Nickerson says. "Although statistics vary, one estimate is that for every 1,000 violent deaths of youth, only 10 of these occur in schools.”

Since becoming director of the Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence, Nickerson has been consulted and quoted in a wide variety of media on bullying and its effect on victims. She also has spoken on current anti-bullying research to parents, young people, school administrators, teachers and other scholars.

Some early reports on the Chardon shootings indicated bullying may have played a role, but these reports at this time were inconclusive. And Nickerson stressed the importance of having accurate information to avoid making a horrible situation even worse.

“There is no accurate ‘profile’ for a school shooter, although the findings from the U.S. Secret Service Study of school shooters found that most were male and acted alone," Nickerson says. "Although many did not show signs of having academic or discipline problems at school, about three-quarters felt they were bullied, persecuted or mistreated by others. Most of the shooters also had a preoccupation with fantasy violence and were perceived to suffer from a sense of failure or loss of status.”

Rather than jumping to quick conclusions, Nickerson stressed the need to support victims, both those directly involved or who witnessed the shootings as well as those who may be harmed in a more indirect way.

“Reactions to this type of crisis will vary depending on several factors," she says, "such as whether the person saw or heard the shooting, relationship with the shooter and/or the victims, personal vulnerabilities (mental illness or disability, lack of social support, previous trauma history) and immediate and long-term reactions and thoughts about the event.

“In addition to cooperating with law enforcement’s investigation, it is important for schools to offer clear and accurate information about the event, ensure that staff and student physical health needs are met, work to ensure that students feel safe and secure, and provide support as needed.

 “This can include connecting youth with their natural sources of support (friends, parents) and providing information to family members and youth about common reactions to this type of event (trouble eating and sleeping, thoughts about the event, difficult concentrating), and what they can do to cope (surround self with support, keep routine -- with room to express feelings, try to eat, sleep, and exercise, avoid watching TV and exposing self to the images).

“Schools and community agencies can also offer crisis intervention for those who may be at-risk for traumatic reactions, and should continue to assess who may be showing signs that signal the need for more intensive crisis intervention in the coming days, weeks and months.”

A video interview with Nickerson is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5nUZOUbFHk.
 

EXPERT CONTACT : Dr. Steven L. Dubovsky, MD Professor and Chair of Psychiatry University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 716-898-5940

Dubovsky is an expert on post-traumatic stress. He has studied the Columbine, Colo., shootings and interviewed survivors of the tragedy. His thoughts on the Chardon High School tragedy:

"There's a lot of post-traumatic stress disorder after an event like this, and some students end up having problems with grades, dropping out of school, etc., over the next couple of years."

"There also may be an increased incidence of accidents and suicides. The best response in treating student-survivors depends on what resources exist within the community, and how comfortable they feel with discussing the tragedy with outside experts.”

"When survivors are interviewed on TV about the death of friends and classmates it is rarely helpful, and sometimes harmful, because it evokes more distress and arousal without resolving anything. The best approach often is to strengthen the sense of community; to help the students finding meaning; and to identify something positive coming out of the tragedy if possible."

"Recent research shows that prompt or even delayed intervention can prevent post-traumatic stress disorder in survivors of disasters like this.”

EXPERT CONTACT : David G. Lichter, MD Professor of Neurology University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Contact Ellen Goldbaum at 716-645-4605 or egoldbaum@buffalo.edu

Lichter, an expert in movement disorders, including Tourette's Syndrome and other tic disorders, has been interviewed by numerous local and national media concerning the emergence of multiple cases of "conversion disorder" in a high school in LeRoy, N.Y.

What is conversion disorder and why does it seem more common among girls than boys?

Conversion disorder is defined as a loss of, or alteration in, physical functioning in which psychological factors are judged to be causally related to the symptoms. This link is suggested by a temporal relationship between a significant psychosocial stressor and initiation or exacerbation of the symptom. Importantly, the person is not conscious of intentionally producing the symptom. This differentiates conversion disorder from factitious disorder or malingering. Conversion disorder is, indeed, more common among girls than boys and particularly affects adolescent girls and young women. One suggestion is that females are more prone to internalizing stress than males. Females may also be more suggestible than males.

How do you think social networking has influenced the appearance of these symptoms?

In the past, symptoms or behaviors of mass psychogenic illness have been spread from a small number of individuals to larger numbers of individuals by what we call "line of sight" and "line of hearing," where the affected sufferers share a common, enclosed environment, such as a school. Social networking now provides another avenue for symptoms to be transmitted rapidly to potentially vulnerable individuals who may be geographically distant from, or not yet directly exposed to, the original cohort.

Do you think the media attention has caused the illness to spread to more people?

It is difficult to know whether media attention may have contributed to the spread of symptoms to others and it is important to note that three of the girls did have pre-existing tic disorders that were not due to psychogenic illness. However, I believe that the intense media scrutiny in this case, including the continued attention to alternative possible causes of the students' symptoms, has heightened anxiety, fostered an environment of mistrust and diverted attention away from the diagnosis that has been accepted by all professionals who have been directly involved in the evaluation and care of these students, i.e. conversion disorder. The result, in some cases, has been a failure to date to initiate appropriate supportive care or an abandonment of such care. This appears to have resulted in some cases in behavioral regression, compared with symptomatic improvement in those who have accepted the diagnosis and continued with appropriate therapy.

How long does conversion disorder usually last?

In cases where the disorder is quickly diagnosed, the diagnosis is accepted by the family and rapid, appropriate and supportive intervention is undertaken, conversion disorder can be successfully treated, with relatively rapid symptomatic resolution, sometimes in a few weeks. This is particularly likely in cases where the individual has healthy personality characteristics and good family support. In the absence of such positive predictors of outcome, the disorder may become chronic and refractory to treatment efforts.

Are researchers working on ways to better detect and treat conversion disorder?

Researchers are indeed working to better understand and treat conversion disorder. The LeRoy students have been offered free evaluation at the National Institutes of Health and have been offered inclusion in its ongoing research study of conversion disorder, which includes functional brain imaging. This research is being undertaken by the Human Motor Control Section at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke by experts in both biologically based and psychologically based movement disorders, including some of the clinical, electrophysiologic and brain imaging overlap between the two.