ANDERSON, GAIL C LIBRARY AB 243 B E 4400 R Thursday, August 27, 1998 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA Volume 8, Number 17 Research Indicates Broadened ISD Expects Year 2000 to Arrive with Importance of Placenta Whimper, Not Bang at MCG TON! BAKER CHRISTINE HURLEY DERISO The placenta, known to provide a fetus with essential oxygen Call Dwain Shaw's voice and nutrients, apparently protects it from destruction as well by mail and you'll get the gist of selectively suppressing the mother's immune system which should his preoccupation: "Hi, this is recognize the genetically different life as foreign. Dwain Shaw," his voice Medical College of Georgia researchers have identified the intones. "There are 528 days mechanism that enables a fetus which has genes from bom the left until the year 2000." mother and father to survive in the mother, whose immune sys­ Why the countdown? Is he tem should eliminate the fetus, much like it would a donated kid­ planning the ultimate millenni­ ney or heart without immunosuppressive therapy. um bash? No. Mr. Shaw, "We are transplants for nine months of our lives before we Medical College of Georgia come out into the world," said Dr. Andrew L. Mellor, molecular director of Information Services geneticist and immunologist and co-author on the study published and Year 2000 project director, in the Aug. 21 edition of the journal, Science. "Our discovery will be too busy working to cel­ addresses the paradox of how mammals, such as human beings, ebrate on Dec. 31, 1999. He's survive in the potentially hostile environment of the womb." in charge of ensuring mat when MCG researchers have found that cells in the placenta, at die MCG employees wrap up then- place where the mother and the developing baby interface, express New Year's holiday, they can Dale Chernich (left) and Dwain Shaw an enzyme, indokamine 2.3-dioxygenase or IDO, which locally return to business as usual. disables the mother's immune system by degrading tryptophan, an That's a much taller order not be able to discern between Direct-deposit checks could amino acid essential to survival of T-cells, the orchestrators of the man many people realize. the years 1900 and 2000." be stranded. Lifesaving pace­ immune system's response, Dr. Mellor said. "Computer hardware and other If mat sounds too esoteric to makers or defibrillators could embedded systems were manu­ be of interest to you, consider become inoperable. See "Placenta," page 4 factured and designed with [a] the implications: Personal com­ Of course, this is the g,,5,;:/W .;•;.«!. ,«l:Kl'..; ,4^^ two-digit-year dating system, puters, traffic lights, elevators, worst-case scenario, and and computer software code planes, automobiles, cellular Information Services is doing "Are You a Class Act? mirrored mis industry over­ phones, videocassette recorders, everything possible to make sight," explains MCG's website digital watches and microwave sure mat Jan. 1, 2000 is as jGive Us a Call (www.isd.mcg.edu). "hi other ovens are just a few of the items smooth-running and unevent­ words, if the current year dating that could malfunction. ful on campus as the day Are you working toward a degree or otherwise fiutbering system is not corrected at both Databanks keeping scores of before. The trick is to make your education in your spare time? We'd like to share your acad­ the hardware and software lev­ important records, such as sure every piece of computer- emic aspirations with the MCG community in an upcoming arti- els by the turn of the century, research results or immunization J cle for the Beeper. If you'd like to relay your experience as a most (if not all) computers will files, could be wiped out See "Y2K," page 3 ? part-time student, and perhaps inspire others to do the same, contact Christine Hurley Deriso, editor, at ext 1-2124 (phone), exL 1-6723 (lax), [email protected] (e-mail) or drop by her office, loom 1050 of the Alumni Center. 'It's a Miracle!' Employee Finds Lost Dog CHRISTINE HURLEY DERISO When Evelyn Casey came Casey ran an errand. When she U.S. Postage home from work June 14, got back, she made her usual PAID she did the first thing she beeline to the back yard. Division of Institutional Relations Permit No. 210 always does. She hurried to Holly Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA was missing. Augusta, Georgia 309'2 Non-Profit Org. the back yard to greet her Ms. Casey was incredu­ dog, HoUy. lous. Where could she be? Ms. Casey, an adminis- Holly couldn't get under or trative coordinator in the over the backyard fence, and School of Medicine she'd never tried to run away Curriculum Office, lives before. Ms. Casey's only alone except for Holly, a clue was a nearby beer can. mixed breed whom Ms. Had someone come by and Casey rescued from the let her out? Richmond County Animal After frantically search­ Shelter 10 years ago. ing for her without success. After playing with Holly for a few minutes that afternoon, Ms. See "Holly," page 2 Thursday, August 27, 1998 MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA Page 2 MCG Roundup Who do people say you look like? Editor's note: This edition's Roundup question was asked to employees in Accounts Payable. Diane Keaton. My father. My sister and I have I've had lots of people call me Wynona Judd. I wish I had her My father. I have his dimples. always looked like him. other names, so I must have money. hundreds of doubles. Sally Purvis Jacqueline Cooper Jean Garrett Dayna Washington Nancy Pearce Senior accounting assistant Senior accounting assistant Senior accounting assistant Senior accounting assistant Senior accounting assistant ...Holly continued from page 1 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Ms. Casey took the next day But nothing was the same. She Ms. Casey thanked her profusely off work, papering the area missed Holly desperately. She for calling and rushed to the FORM with fliers, calling veterinari­ asked her friends and colleagues scene, about two miles from her ans and radio stations for help. to pray for her return. home. But when she arrived, Name: _ "I got lots of leads, and I Then, on June 26, 12 days there was no sign of Holly. Ms. Address answered every one. But noth­ after Holly's disappearance, Ms. Casey called her and walked the ing turned up," she said. Casey got a call. A woman visit­ area several times. Nothing. "I MCG extension: (if applicable): _________________ Despondent, Ms. Casey ing her mother saw a dog who fit got back in my car and started Home phone: ____________________________ resumed her normal routine. the description on a nearby flier. crying. I was so dejected, so dis­ Category of ad (leave blank if unsure) ______________ appointed. Then I looked out the Ad: (write one word per line, including home phone number) window ... and there she stood! It was just a miracle, the most wonderful thing I'd ever seen. I .25 .50 .75 know it was because of every­ 1.00 Division of Institutional Relations body's prayers." 1.25 1.50 Medical College of Georgia Holly was dirty and scared, 1.75 2.00 2.25 Augusta, Georgia 30912 but otherwise no worse for the wear. Her veterinarian said that 2.50 2.75 3.00 considering the dog's age and the DANIEL R. PEARSON PUBLISHER severely hot weather during 3.25 3.50 3.75 her ordeal, Holly was extremely CHRISTINE HURLEY DERISO EDITOR lucky to survive. 4.00 4.25 4.50 Beeper is published biweekly by Graphic Advertising, a private Since then, Holly has moved firm in no way connected with the Medical College of Georgia. up in the world. She now stays 4.75 5.00 5.25 Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and are not indoors. And whereas Ms. Casey considered an official expression by the Medical College of Georgia. never indulged herself by 5.50 5.75 6.00 The appearance of advertisements in this publication, to include installing air-conditioning, she inserts, does not constitute an endorsement by the Medical College of decided only the best would do 6.25 6.50 6.75 Georgia of the products or services advertised. for Holly. Two days after Ms. News and photos are provided by the Division of Institutional Casey found Holly, central air- 7.00 7.25 7.50 Relations. Direct correspondence about news to MCG Beeper, conditioning was installed in her FI-1052. Phone: (706) 721-4410. 7.75 8.00 8.25 home. There's no longer any MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA mystery about where to find 8.50 8.75 9.00 President, Francis J. Tedesco, M.D. Holly: She's home—safe, sound, VP, University Advancement, Dr. James B. Osborne cool and collected. 9.25 9.50 9.75 Director, Public Relations and Marketing, Dale Crail Send this form with payment to: Direct display advertising inquiries to CLASSIFIED INFORMATION Graphic Advertising, P.O. Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397 GRAPHIC ADVERTISING Classified ads are 25$ per word per Total ad cost by number of words above: _________ P.O. Box 397 Augusta, GA 30903-0397 issue, pre-paid and non-refundable Multiply by number of times ad to run: *______ (706) 860-5455 (payment: check or money order only, Total Submitted: $ _________ payable to Graphic Advertising). Ads Classified ads are 25? per word per issue, pre-paid and non-refundable (payment: check or Postmaster: Please send address changes and forwarding requests to: must be received in writing not later money order only, payable to Graphic Advertising).