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Show The Park Record A-10 Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 12-14, 2005 Utah student isolates snail poison l\ L€ATH€R TWO DAYS ONLY JANUARY I 5 & I 7 2OO5 SALT LAKE CITY (AP) In Olivera, "Even then, it was clear 1979, J. Michael Mclnlosh was so thai he was gifted and focused." interested in biology that even A distinguished professor of before he entered the University biology, for decades Olivera has of Utah as an undergraduate, he researched cone snail toxins began working in a U. laboratory searching for new medicines. researching the venom of a carnivWhy cone snails? 'Hie animals orous marine snail. carry an amazing variety of neuro'Hie senior at Hillcresl High toxins. and these materials can be School isolated a substance in the useful. An old adage has it that poison secreled by the cone snail dosage determines a poison; in ('onus magus, a fish-hunting ani- high doses, water can kill. Some mal living on the bottom of shal- cone snail toxins, while paralyzing low ocean areas. As he advanced or deadly to small fish, may protoward his degree at the universi- vide relief to humans al the corty, he purified the substance, rect concentrations. clubbed omega-MVIIA, and idenAccording to the university. U. tified ils chemical structure. biologist Doju Yoshikami deterToday, Mclnlosh is a medical mined that the factor that doctor, a professor of psychiatry al Mclnlosh isolated blocked signals the U.'s School of Medicine, and a running along nerve cells, thus research professor of biology. He stopping ihe transmission of pain continues to carry out research on messages. Olivera and Yoshikami beneficial properties of cone snail developed Ihe omega-MVIIA for use in basic research, according to toxin. And three days after a university press release. Christmas, and about 25 years In a Deseret Morning News after Mclnlosh began his lab work telephone interview, Mclnlosh al the U.. the Food and Drug recalled that it all began when he Administration gave its formal was going to Hillcrest and thinking approval to Prialt. the synthetic about attending the university. version of the substance he stud"I look a tour of the biology ied. Marketed by ihc Irish compa- department, because that's what I ny Elan Corp., the drug may be was interested in majoring in," he used to manage severe chronic said. pain in patients who are not He visiled a laboratory, which helped by other treatments, happened to be Olivera's. An including morphine. undergraduate student was work"He started working in the lab ing there, and "I just asked him when he was 18 years old," how it was thai he got the job and recalled his mentor, the laborato- how he liked it." ry's director Baldomero "Tolo" Hie young man was enthusias- Treatment looked for 2* &. 2 1/2" SLATS COMPOSITE Available MDF&. Bass Wood 1 WEEK DELIVERY 24*X36' Single Cell 3CdlStxet 24*X30" 7 Colon of Color. Energy Effldcnt Low Miinttnence Top DownBooom up Skylight) Fut Delivery ISixt 3 Vtlimx Stftc* 1 21/2"- 3 1/2"- 4 1/2" 16 Patterni 100 Colon Sky Light) Angle Window* Room Darkening Arthci Part Delivery 24TC36' Available FUr T a r Drop Top Down Bottom-Up CordJcu 75TC84" •SCTOTI Colon Cord Control or Wind No En™ Charge 1 Week Delivery OREM SALT LAKE 225'6977 OGDEN SHOWROOM 2432 So, 487-5662 tic about the lab and said the uni- Medical Center as a practicing versity had offered him a scholar- psychiatrist and teaches there. ship, connected with the job. About 500 species of cone Mclntosh thought he would do the snails are known. Mclntosh noted. same. He landed a position there, They have different strategies for loo. paralyzing or killing their prey. Of He was "assigned to try to puri- these 500. the researchers have fy a venom" from components studied about 100. that act on the brain. "And so I Each venom produced by the went to work on that assignment, cone, snails has about 200 different and one of Ihc compounds that I components, such as the factor isolated was this compound that's isolated by Mclntosh. 'flic venom now become Prialt," varies among species, and the Continuing lo work with components are different, too. As Olivera. Mclntosh graduated from a result, tens of thousands of the university and went on lo the chemical compounds arc secreled UCLA Medical School. After by the snails, each working someearning his medical degree, he did what differently on ihe nervous speciality training in psychiatry al system. the University of Colorado. But That means ihe number of he remained enchanted with labo- potential medicines derived from ratory work. cone snail venom may be huge. "I found I missed the research "Everything 1 hat these snails so much that I wanted to find a make is designed lo affect the way to be able to continue with physiology of a prey that they are it." he said. trying to capture, so it is a very Keeping an eye on the research rich source of materials," that Olivera was doing, he wrote Mclntosh said. to the National Institute of He and Olivera are among Health, seeking funding for a founders of a Salt Lake City comgrant so he could return to Utah pany, Cognctix, that strives lo and work on projects he had develop additional treatment combegun years before. pounds based on snail venom. Before long. Mclntosh Painkillers are not the only use of these substances, he said, although returned to Salt Lake City. "Toto Olivera and I collaborate Cognetix is working on one that together in continuing lo examine may be a great blocker of pain. the components of these venoms "There are other compounds," for additional compounds that Mclntosh said, "one that looks may have medical potential and like it may be useful for treating serve as tools for ncuroscientisls," patients who have suffered a heart he said. attack (or) for patients who have Mclntosh also works at the U. suffered a stroke." 32-1666 ATS SAME AS CASH SALT LAKE CITY (AP) With sex offender convictions steadily increasing, Ulah Department of Corrections officials hope to see a budget increase from lawmakers that will pay for more sex offender treatment slots. 'Hie department's $1.6 million treatment budget has not increased since 1997. The number of offenders, however, has thrown from 900 in 1997 fo 1.450 this year, said Ron Sanchez, clinical director of the Division of Institutional Operations' sex offender treatment program. Some offenders are required by a judge lo complete the program. and all must finish it if they want to be paroled. "The need is gelling critical," Sanchez said. "We feel like we have a responsibility to make sure people ace getting the best treatment we"eaTl «grve rffcmrWe don'l want people to be (paroled) who haven't had treatment." In 2004, Sanchez and others asked the Legislature for an additional $1 million for treatment, but then-Gov. Olene Walker recommended just half that to her 2005 budget. Lawmakers will review Walker's recommendation when the 2005 legislative session begins Jan. 17. A study by Utah's Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice found that sex offenders released from prison between 1997 and 2000 who failed to complete treatment had an average 44.7 percent repeatoffender rate 'Hiosc who finished treatment programs had an average rate of just 18.9 percent. Access to treatment is typically awarded first to those witli the lowest felony-level offenses. But access lo the 268 treatment slots can be delayed if an offender is being housed away from the prison's Draper site, which has 208 slots, or the San Juan and Washington County jails, which have 30 each. CLEARANCE SALE SPAS AND POOL TABLES Overstocked Clearance The Brookstone Open Sundays Transitional style BRUNSWICK AUTHORIZED DEALER Brunswick Lifetime Warranty "Simply the Best" 7* 8' and 9' Pool Tables on Display We Take Trade-ins Payments As Low As Per Month 60 Month O.A.C. OPEN MONrSAT. 10:00 AM -6:00 PM OPEN EVERY SUNDAY NOON - 6 : 0 0 PM Park 2O6 Li. 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