Loma Linda University News September 23, 1999 LLU granted Adventist accreditation through 2004 LLU office of diversity sponsors RAMP program Free one-hour self-defense lecture offered at Drayson Center Loma Linda students, faculty travel to Fiji on mission trip Faculty Notes LLU granted Adventist accreditation through 2004 The Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (AAC), meeting on August 6, granted Loma Linda University continued accreditation through December 31, 2004. A team of Adventist educators and administrators appointed by AAC and chaired by Peter Bath, PhD, president of Kettering College of Medical Arts, Kettering, Ohio, visited the campus from June 7 to 11, 1999. One team member, William Chobatar, PhD, professor of biology at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, who was also a member of the visiting team from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in December, 1998, provided coordination with the AAC visit. The Loma Linda University self-study report prepared for the AAC (using their guidelines) primarily addressed issues not included in the earlier self-study for the senior commission of WASC. This self-study was prepared by a faculty committee chaired by Joyce W. Hopp, PhD, MPH, dean, School of Allied Health Professions. Gerald R. Winslow, PhD, dean, Faculty of Religion, and special assistant to the president for spiritual life, served as vice chair of the committee. The AAC committee report commended "administration, faculty, and staff for their overt dedication to the theme of wholeness, which was the founding centerpiece of this institution in 1905." They commended "the president, who is seen by campus stake-holders (administration, faculty, staff, and students) as the driving force for fulfilling the mission of the institution and the Church, with Jesus Christ at the center" and commended "the students for their understanding and general support of the mission of Loma Linda University." The committee had many other commendations, as well as recommendations for further progress of many aspects of the operation and programs of Loma Linda University. A copy of the complete report is available for review at the office of the president located in Magan Hall, room 111. LLU office of diversity sponsors RAMP program For the seventh year, Loma Linda University has offered an apprentice program for minority high school students interested in learning about careers in research science. The Research Apprenticeships for Minorities Program (RAMP), which is sponsored by Loma Linda University and Bank of America, brings local high school students to the LLU campus for a six-week intensive program where they work in close cooperation with Loma Linda University faculty and top-level researchers on various research projects. Students eligible for the program are those who the U.S. Department of Education identify as underrepresented minorities—African American, Latino, Native American, Alaskan native, or Pacific Islander. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. According to Marino DeLeón, PhD, program director and associate professor of physiology and pharmacology, School of Medicine, there are few minorities in this field of science. "The best way to improve the numbers of minorities in science is to improve the pipeline," he says. RAMP hopes to stimulate minority high school students to pursue careers in biomedical research and the health professions. "The program is one more opportunity for Loma Linda University to invest in the community," points out Leslie N. Pollard, DMin, special assistant to the president for diversity, LLU, whose office coordinates the program. "We believe that we are making a difference when we nurture the young people of our community." Each student who completed the program received a pretax scholarship of $1,000 and an official certificate of completion. The following are summaries of research results that each student presented at the completion ceremony: Department of molecular immunology Student researcher: Teodros Bemnet School: Redlands High School LLU researcher: John F. Sands, PhD, assistant professor, biochemistry, School of Medicine DNA transformation The purpose of DNA transformation is to clone one DNA fragment into many identical DNA fragments. We then use the cloned DNA fragments to transfect prostate cancer cells. I worked in the department of molecular immunology where the main project was on prostate cancer. Teodros Bemnet, a junior at Redlands High School, looks at E. coli bacteria through a microscope. In transformation, we injected a plasmid DNA into a bacteria called E. coli. E. coli encodes beta-galactosidase. The purpose of using bacteria like E. coli to clone plasmids is because plasmids cannot reproduce on their own. E. coli has what the plasmids need in order to reproduce. After the plasmids reproduce enough, we killed the E. coli, because it was no longer needed. The E. coli bacteria was injected with the plasmid. The mixed plasmid and E. coli was frozen at 4ºC and then quickly put into a 42ºC water bath. This caused heat shock in the E. coli and plasmid. The heat shock causes the bacteria to improve the efficiency of transformation. Ten ml of the mixture was pipetted onto 10 agar plates. We prepared the plates with a substance called x-gal. If the insert in the gene disrupts the gene, then the gene will not be able to break the x-gal so there will be no color or clear. But if the insert does not disrupt the gene, then the gene will be able to break down x-gal, and there will be a blue substance on the plate. The mixture was mixed around the plate by spinning a wheel and spreading it out with a rod. The plates then sat with the contaminated bacteria for 24 hours. After 24 hours, we killed the E. coli bacteria from each plate. We then took the cloned plasmids and grew them in L broth and the antibiotic ampicillin at 37ºC. We then centrifuged the plasmids at 700 rpm for seven minutes. When we took the plasmids out, there was a pellet at the bottom of the tube, so we had to take all the fluid out of the tube and isolate and break the pellet, and add 5-ml medium to the tube, (or we could have added LB/ampicillin/kanamycin). The new cloned plasmids are stored at 4ºC. They now are ready to be used to transfect prostate cancer cells. Department of physiology Student researcher: Jeffrey G. Brown School: Redlands East Valley High School LLU researcher: Marino DeLeón, PhD, associate professor of physiology and pharmacology, School of Medicine In search of fatty acid binding proteins DA11 is a fatty acid binding protein (FABP) whose expression has been shown to be unregulated in rats following injury to the nervous system. This shows that there is some connection between the damage and DA11. Knowing what DA11 does could be very helpful in learning how the nervous system is repaired. It is also important to see if there is a similar or the same FABP in humans. Human brain cDNA was used for this experiment. Redlands East Valley High School senior Jeffrey Brown reviews research articles relating to his study of fatty acid binding proteins. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to make the small amount of DNA enough to work with. Primers, which corresponded to DA11, were used to only let DNA similar to DA11 multiply. The PCR consisted of 50 cycles. An electrophoresis was used to check if the PCR was successful. Each of the 10 samples showed a band. The presence of a band meant that there was DNA in that particular sample. Fifty ml of pUC18 plasmids were cultured in LB+ 100ug/ml ampicillin. The plasmids were joined with the DNA fragment using T4 DNA ligase. The plasmids with insert were put in E. coli bacteria cells. LB-amp plates were then spread with x-gal and IPTG. The treated cells were then added to the plates and were incubated overnight at 37ºC. The white colonies were chosen for the mini prep. White colonies are chosen because they have the DNA insert. There are two types of colonies, blue and white. Blue colonies have the lac-z gene and are able to break down the x-gal and turn blue. The white colonies, which have the insert, cannot break down the x-gal because the insert disrupts the lac-z gene. Unfortunately, no blue colonies appeared, which meant that there was a problem. Colonies were chosen from plates that were likely to have the insert. Four colonies were chosen from each of the five plates. An electrophoresis was done to see if any of the colonies had the DNA insert. All of the bands were very low, indicating that there were very small fragments. These fragments were too small to be the insert. There were two plates that were not tested because it was known that there was insert in them. These were then prepared and sequenced. One of the sequences was a known sequence, PA-FABP. The other sequence was much more interesting. It was an unknown sequence. It could not be found on the online gene bank. Figuring out how DA11 is connected to nerve injury, and if there is a similar FABP in humans could be helpful for future work with the nervous system. * * * See the next issue of TODAY for more research result summaries by RAMP participants. Free one-hour self-defense lecture offered at Drayson Center According to self-defense expert Steve Hsu, there is no longer a need to walk in constant fear of being attacked or harassed. "Don't let an aggressor harass or attack you," urges Mr. Hsu. "The power is within you to protect yourself." Mr. Hsu is offering a one-hour self-defense lecture free to the public on Tuesday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m., at Drayson Center. This new self-empowerment/ self-defense workshop will teach you how to unleash your potential and will help provide you with self-reliance, self-confidence, assertiveness, guarded trust, and safety awareness. The one-hour lecture is an orientation to a four-week course designed to empower participants with self-preservation knowledge and skills that may extend into everyday life. The four-week program, which begins Monday, October 4, is based upon the teachings of Al Marrewa, author of the best-selling book The Feminine Warrior, Kensington Publishing Corporation, February, 1998. The four-week course costs $79 for LLU faculty, students, or employees, and Drayson Center members, and $99 for non-LLU and non-Drayson Center members. Space is limited for this self-defense program, and only 20 participants are allowed into the four-week course. Steve Hsu, the program instructor, is a lecturer and educator in the field of rape and assault prevention and holds a second degree black belt in the ancient Chinese fighting art of Kung Fu San Soo. Mr. Hsu is an associate lecturer on The Feminine Warrior, and is one of only two instructors authorized to conduct lectures, seminars, and workshops based on topics and contents of this book. For more information regarding this workshop and/or other self-empowerment programs, please contact Steve Hsu at (909) 357-9026 or pager (909) 873-7572. Loma Linda students, faculty travel to Fiji on mission trip It was definitely not a vacation. The team of 85 individuals, including a number of Loma Linda University students and faculty, went to Fiji this past June to work. The beautiful setting of Fiji was the backdrop for a two-week mission trip by the 85-member team to Vanuatu Seventh-day Adventist School and Buca Bay Medical Clinic. Students from all six University schools took part in the venture. "We were definitely not on a vacation," says Ralph Perrin, DrPH, dean of students at Loma Linda and an administrator for the trip, "but to me, roughing it a little is what makes it a true mission trip." The trip took place June 16 to 30 and the group worked at a variety of tasks which included running medical and dental clinics, conducting an evangelistic series and children's ministry program, and doing construction and remodeling. Located about a mile from the town of Loa and about two hours from the nearest airport in Savusavu, the Vanuatu Seventh-day Adventist (elementary) School and Buca Bay Medical Clinic share the same campus and served as the center for the group's activities. The mission team was made up of Loma Linda students from the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Public Health, Allied Health Professions, Nursing, and the Graduate School, members of the University faculty, practicing medical professionals, students from other colleges and universities, and a number of other individuals. Junior dentistry student Periza Zaninovic (left) completes dental work on a patient, assisted by Geoff Stuart of Portland, Oregon. Steve Arrington, founder of the Dream Machine Foundation, served as co-administrator with Dr. Perrin during the Fiji mission trip. The Dream Machine Foundation is a nonprofit interdenominational Christian organization which promotes aid to the world's children through medical, educational, and farming opportunities. Mr. Arrington was a member of Jacques Cousteau's diving team at one point. The dental and medical members of the team provided free treatment for a daily average of more than 40 dental patients and in excess of 130 medical patients. "Some people came from as far away as five hours by public transportation," Dr. Perrin recounts. "We were, however, careful to coordinate our efforts with the dental and medical service providers in the area." Dr. Perrin feels strongly that such mission initiatives should always take into account the services—particularly medical—which are already in place, and support and enhance them. "What happens when we leave?" Dr. Perrin asks. "We should be helping the workers who are already there, sharing our resources and knowledge with them." An added bonus for the physical therapy (PT) students in the group happened when they realized there was a need for their expertise among the islanders. The PT students came along on the mission trip fully expecting to help with the remodeling and construction projects. However, they ended up conducting back clinics and providing education. Alisa (center), who traveled to LLUMC for cardiac treatment, poses with Dr. Perrin (right) and her mother at the clinic in Fiji. The evangelistic and children's program components of the mission venture were supervised by Dr. Perrin's brothers. Lloyd Perrin, MDiv, conducted an evangelistic series which drew a crowd each evening. A sophisticated portable public address system and video projector, made possible through the ingenuity of team member Jerry E. Daly, MA, MSLS, director of the University media services, added to the success of the series. "We showed a series on the life of Jesus each night," Dr. Perrin relates. "I remember seeing the same series as a kid." Keith Perrin, youth pastor and chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, headed the children's ministry aspect of the mission trip. An average of 80 kids attended his program each day, which was organized similarly to the Vacation Bible School concept, with Bible stories, crafts, and games. During the mission trip, Dr. Perrin tried to maintain a balance of experiences for his team members. Members of the mission team to Fiji pose for a group photo on the grounds of the Vanuatu Seventh-day Adventist School in Fiji. "While it's important to work hard," he explains, "it's just as important to take time off to relax and enjoy some recreation." The mission team was truly a mix of people from different backgrounds. While a number of students and faculty were from Loma Linda, students also came from Pacific Union College, Angwin; the University of Hawaii, Honolulu; Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska; the University of California, Los Angeles; Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington; and the University of California, San Diego. Professionals on the team included doctors, dentists, nurses, a videographer, pastors, physical therapists, a construction contractor, and a medical assistant. "This was truly a joint effort," Dr. Perrin concludes, "and I think every team member received a blessing." Faculty Notes * Zaida Cordero-MacIntyre, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition, School of Public Health, attended the annual meetings of the American College of Sports Medicine held in Seattle, June 2 to 5. Dr. Cordero-MacIntyre presented a scientific paper titled "Reproducibility of Body Measurements in Very Obese Postmenopausal Women." * Donald L. Anderson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, and chair, department of psychiatry, School of Medicine, made two paper presentations on resident training in religion and spirituality. The first paper was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Directors and Residency Training Programs in Los Angeles, and the second, at the meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in Washington, D.C. Khrushro B. Unwalla, MD, former chief resident in psychiatry at Loma Linda University Medical Center, co-authored the second paper. This work is supported by a grant from the Templeton Foundation. * Mark G. Haviland, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry, School of Medicine, presented a paper titled, "Objective Measures of Alexithymia," at the spring meeting of the West Coast College of Biological Psychiatry in Tucson, Arizona. Co-authoring the paper was Richard D. Lane, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson. * Richard T. Rice, PhD, professor of religion, Faculty of Religion, recently authored a review article of Wolfhart Pannenberg's three volume systematic theology, titled "Wolfhart Pannenberg's Crowning Achievement: A Review of His Systematic Theology." The article was published by Andrews University University Seminary Studies, Spring, 1999, issue. * Craig R. Jackson, JD, MSW, associate professor of social work, and his wife, G. Victoria Jackson, MSW, LCSW, assistant professor of social work, Graduate School, attended the annual Councilor's Meeting held at Newbold College in Bracknell, England, June 19 to 21. They co-chair the education committee and were instrumental in recommending a behavioral science program in the school's undergraduate curriculum, which will be incorporated this fall. Ms. Jackson has been one of the diversity trainers for the LLU office of diversity and presented the topic "Crossroads in health care" to several groups participating in the customer service workshops, sponsored by Loma Linda University Medical Center from April through July. She co-presented with Charlotte Ellison, community liaison for the 16th Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in San Bernardino, a workshop titled "Touch of Class," at the 1999 campmeeting of the Black ministries department, Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, on August 1. The organization, Touch of Class, is a community outreach designed to teach life skills to African-American teens. University | Medical_Center | LLU&MC_home | Search_&_index | News_&_events | Employment | Contact | Our_mission All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. All rights reserved. Revised Thursday, February 1, 2001 12:32 PM Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu URL: /