APRIL 11, 2014 The Second Best Thing About Payday VOL. LXVI, NO. 8 Train Mind to Change Brain? Visualizing Future May Help Weight Loss, Epstein Says By Belle Waring ABOVE · When’s spring, again? Campus frog ponders the same question we’re all r. Leonard H. Epstein of the University at Buffalo has found that visualizing a asking. See more photos, p. 7. D positive future event can help control the impulse to overeat. “This is two ideas put together: the features motivation to eat and the inability to de- 1 lay gratification,” he said. “This is a cen- ‘Episodic Future Thinking’ May Be tral idea to people doing research on the ‘Diet’ That Finally Works drugs, now applied to studying obesity.” 3 The SUNY distinguished professor of Herb-Drug Interactions Can Hurt! pediatrics and chief of behavioral med- icine recently discussed his research 7 results in Natcher Bldg. An expert in Winter 2014 Was for Snow Lovers childhood obesity, Epstein is known 12 for a warm and open teaching style. His Local Kids Treated to Circus talk, “Reinforcement Pathology: Lead- foot and Worn Brakes,” was sponsored Everybody wants immediate gratification, but some by the Office of Behavioral and Social people have a harder time than others in resisting their impulses, says Dr. Leonard H. Epstein. He is departments Sciences Research. see epstein, page 6 finding ways to counter that tendency. Briefs 2 Trash Talk Brawley Calls for ‘Rational, Evidence- Digest 9 Cuervo Explains How Our Cells Discard, Based’ Medicine Recycle Matter By Eric Bock Milestones 10 By Dana Steinberg Seen 12 Inefficient, unequal and irrational. That’s how As we learn more Dr. Otis W. Braw- about the inner ley described the workings of cells, United States’ we’re uncover- health care system ing clues that may at a recent Con- help us delay the temporary Clini- effects of aging cal Medicine Great and disease. It all Teachers Grand begins with lyso- Rounds lecture. somes—the can- “We spend a lot of nibals of the cellu- time focusing on lar world. treating illness as Within each cell, a opposed to pre- lysosome is a sac venting people Dr. Otis W. Brawley of enzymes that Dr. Ana Maria Cuervo from getting ill- digests anything in ness,” said Braw- it. The lysosome devours proteins, lipids, even ley, chief medical and scientific officer of the pathogens that enter from outside the cell, as American Cancer Society and a former NCI scientist. The NIH Record is recyclable well as components within the cell. The nutri- as office white paper. ents get broken down and recycled while the see cuervo, page 8 see brawley, page 4 of Bldg. 1, in conjunction with Take Your Child to Work Day. Come visit demos, exhibits and displays by the NBC Channel 4 Storm Team weather truck and meteo- rologist Veronica Johnson, National Geographic, briefs R&W seedlings giveaway, Montgomery and Prince George’s County recycling programs, Baltimore Neuhauser To Present at DDM Seminar Aquarium, Smithsonian Institution, Nature Con- servancy, Scales and Tales and the NIH Bicycle The Deputy Director for Management (DDM) Commuter Club. Attendees can take a spin on the announces the second DDM seminar of the NIH bike to generate energy or take a nature walk 2013-2014 series “Management and Science: around the NIH stream from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Partnering for Excellence.” The event on Thursday, Apr. 17 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Local food trucks, including Ben & Jerry’s and Chick- Masur Auditorium, Bldg. 10, will feature Peg fil-A will also be on campus to provide discounted Neuhauser, who will discuss “Breaking Down food options for attendees. This is an NIH zero- Silos in Your Organization.” She will focus on waste event: all waste will be either composted or building connections and strategies and the recycled. NIH employees at local offsite locations power of informal relationships. may wish to take advantage of the extra shuttles provided for transportation to and from the Videocasting and sign language will be pro- Bethesda campus that day. vided. Individuals who need reasonable accom- modation to attend should call (301) 496-6211 or In addition, NIH’s Bayview campus in Baltimore will the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. host a flower-planting event, seedling handout, “Spin the Wheel” question & prize game and a re- For details about the series, visit www.ddm- cycling collection for toner cartridges, eyeglasses, series.od.nih.gov or call (301) 496-3271. light bulbs and personal batteries. STEP Forum on Successful Aging, Apr. 29 NIEHS in Research Triangle Park, N.C., is hosting a joint effort with the EPA to have speakers educate The staff training in extramural programs (STEP) attendees on invasive species. There will be a The NIH Record is published biweekly at committee will present “Live Long and Prosper: Bethesda, MD by the Editorial Operations campus walking tour to highlight and identify Branch, Office of Communications and Public Successful Aging in Our Time,” on Tuesday, Apr. such species. NIEHS will also host a cleanup of the Liaison, for the information of employees of 29 from 9 to 11 a.m. in Rockledge II, Rm. 9100. campus lake and will launch an “Adopt-a-Highway” the National Institutes of Health, Department An information fair will be held from 11 a.m. to event during Earth Week. of Health and Human Services. The content is noon in Rm. 9112. reprintable without permission. Pictures may NIH on Executive Blvd. will host a music/film swap be available upon request. Use of funds for Aging is inevitable. What are the biological on Earth Day, with collections running from now to printing this periodical has been approved by mechanisms governing aging? How do psycho- the director of the Office of Management and Apr. 18. Materials can be dropped off at any of four Budget through September 30, 2014. logical, environmental and social factors affect NIH locations: Bldg. 10, 2nd Fl. cafeteria; NSC 6th successful aging? Translational research shows Fl. Rm. 6140; NSC 7th Fl. Rm. 7170D; and NSC 7th Fl. To receive alerts to our latest issue, send an that we can influence how we grow old and Rm. 7217. email to [email protected] with the words improve the quality of our senior years. Join us “Subscribe NIHRECORD” in the message body. as we explore the science and practical aspects NCI Shady Grove will hold its Earth Day event from NIH Record Office Bldg. 31, Rm. 5B41 of living longer and prospering. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a recycling exhibit, book Phone (301) 496-2125 Fax (301) 402-1485 swap, compost demonstration and lots of other Web address http://nihrecord.od.nih.gov table exhibits. Editor Consider volunteering your green ideas, time and Richard McManus talents to the Earth Day planning committee. If [email protected] interested, contact Danita Broadnax at broadnax@ Associate Editor mail.nih.gov. Check out the full list of special Earth Carla Garnett Day activities and events for all NIH facilities at [email protected] http://nems.nih.gov. Staff Writers Dana Steinberg [email protected] Belle Waring Last year’s Earth Day event garnered gardening [email protected] enthusiasts of all ages. The NIH Record reserves the right to make corrections, changes or deletions in submitted Earth Day 2014 Is on Its Way to an NIH Site copy in conformity with the policies of the Near You, Apr. 24 paper and HHS. It is that time of year again. Flowers blooming, NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health birds chirping and NIH’s annual Earth Day event. This year, the “Plant a Seed, Grow a Healthy Future” themed celebration will be held on Thursday, Apr. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front 2 NIH RECORD APRIL 11, 2014 2 APRIL 11, 2014 APRIL 11, 2014 VOL. LXVI, NO. 8 Herb interactions can occur not only with medications, but also within herbal products. Many supplements contain multiple herbs; when that abundance of biologically active plant com- pounds combines, the result A Major Culprit in Interactions can be strong synergistic effects. Gurley described cases Far and away the most problematic herb for in which taking supplements herb-drug interactions is St. John’s wort, said containing stimulants such as Dr. Bill Gurley. It has a very high drug-inter- caffeine, guarana, yerba maté, action risk, rendering most drugs ineffective green tea or bitter orange— in the body, including birth control pills, anti- in excess, in combination, too coagulants, antidepressants, antiretrovirals, quickly or with vigorous exer- antiseizure drugs and immunosuppressants. cise (especially under hot con- He provided an example of how serious those Dr. Bill Gurley of the University of Arkansas ditions)—has led to emergency interactions can be. NCCAM Lecturer Explains Herb-Drug room visits and even fatalities In 1999, Gurley received a call from one of Interactions (see sidebar). his institution’s transplant surgeons concern- By Ellen O’Donnell He emphasized, “Most herbal ing a young patient who had had a kidney supplements do not present a transplant 5 years earlier. Her cyclosporine Herbal and other dietary supplements are eas- serious drug-interaction risk.” levels kept falling, despite increased doses, ily found on store shelves, near the aspirin and Gurley added, however, that and no one could figure out why. “The way antacids. But does that mean they are safe? Dr. most supplements’ effects typi- they found out,” Gurley explained, “was when Bill Gurley delved into a key aspect of this seem- cally are also minimal, either she mentioned to the dietitian on the trans- ingly simple, but actually complex question when from poor dosage form per- plant team that she was taking St.