Wednesday, June 10, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
Chemists look at bandage to be used in eye surgeries
Technique aids post-surgery collagen heal
By Julie Sachs Kansan staff writer
Bandages are not just for cuts and scrapes anymore. Soon there will be a bandage used for surgery.
The technical term for the bandage is photostitching. It is a relatively new concept that chemistry professor Rich Givens and his research team are working to perfect.
Photostitching is a sort of chemist's bandage. It is made up of polypeptides and a secret bonding compound that researchers at the University of Kansas are still trying to uncover.
"It will be a major scientific advance, particularly a biomedical advance," said Barbara Schowen, professor of chemistry.
Photostitching is a new idea that
many of Givens' graduate students working on the project had not been introduced to before coming to the University.
Givens said that the photostitching procedure would one day be used in eye surgeries and possibly in surgeries dealing with the Achilles tendon.
These are the target areas of research because they contain a substance called collagen, Givens said. This soft substance takes several weeks to heal after surgery.
Givens said that through his research of photostitching he hoped to help the collagen heal more quickly and less painfully than what is possible through normal stitches.
"You can cut collagen, but it doesn't grow back well because few blood vessels bring nutrients to it," Givens said. "We are trying to circumvent mechanical suturing."
Photostitching entails using a chemical substance on the eye and then bonding it to the collagen on the eye with a laser. The substance would hold the incision closed the same way a bandage closes a small
"We are just beginning to see if it will all work. We are just using pieces of collagen that have been taken from animals. We are a long way from testing on humans."
Rich Givens Chemistry professor
"This bond will last a long time," Givens said.
cut.
The idea of using this laser stitching is going to be a fairly new process to the medical community.
"Using photoactive compounds has never been attempted," said Russel Herpel, Gower, Mo., graduate student. "We are the starting point."
Although the University is the current site of research for the project, the idea of photostitching was actually introduced to Givens and his researchers by George T. Timberlake, associate professor of ophthalmology at the KU Medical Center.
"Dr. Timberlake had been working on this before. He wanted to pursue the problem," Givens said. "He found out about me, and it led to a collaborative project."
But Givens said that the ideas that made up the basis for phot-stitching are a long way from completion.
"We are just beginning to see if it will all work," Givens said. "We are just using pieces of collagen that have been taken from animals. We are a long way from testing on humans."
Givens said that he and his researchers were still in the process of finding the compound that would actually bind to the collagen.
"We are still exploring," he said.
"This is just the beginning."
Classes free at Computer Center
By Tim Burger
Beginning this semester, KU students will no longer pay to take training classes at the Computer Center.
Kansan staff writer
The Computer Center offers a variety of classes teaching skills including e-mail training, the use of business software and web page construction. The sessions are free for all students, faculty and staff. Classes also are open to the public, but some require a $75 fee.
Because of the recent increase in fees for dial-in accounts, Academic Computing Services has
been able to hire additional personnel to teach computer training.
"We had some funding made available from central resources," said Jerry Niebaum, director of Academic Computing Services. "Since we had a budget surplus we were able to provide those services free."
Classes teaching how to browse the Internet and HTML classes, teaching web page construction, have been the most popular among students, said Jerree Catlin, supervisor for training and documentation for
Academic Computing Services. The classes are designed to teach specific skills in one three-hour session.
"All these hands-on classes have been developed so people who want to do e-mail and Internet browsing can sit down and learn how to do it." Catlin said.
Students normally take advantage of the training classes at the beginning of the semester when they are the most motivated to learn a new skill, Catlin said.
"The faculty are requiring more and more that students are familiar with technology."
Niebaum said. "This training is not provided in the general university education, so it becomes the students' responsibility to learn it."
Students who plan to attend should sign up at the Computer Center before coming to a session so that the classes do not become overcrowded.
Students who are interested or want to learn skills but cannot attend classes, can get more information from the Academic Computing Services web site at www.cc.ukans.edu/~acs/training.
SUA committee plans summertime diversions such as movies, concerts
By Darrin Peschka
Kansan staff writer
Student Union Activities coordinators are working to finalize a summer activities schedule after the season's shaky start.
"We are trying to reschedule this band for July," said Tracie Schuler, graduate adviser. "We plan to have various Tunes at Noon concerts throughout the summer."
The first SUA activity of the summer, the free concert Tunes at Noon was to be held June 11in front of the Kansas Union. However, the band scheduled to perform, The Student Union, canceled because of time conflicts.
In addition to the concerts, SUA has planned other summer activities.
On June 19, SUA will show Liar Liar starring Jim Carrey at 7 and 9 p.m. at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union.After the Sim.
Union. After the film, a live concert will be held from 9 to 11p.m.at the Jaybowl. Local band The Anniversary will perform, as will the Seattle band Roadside Monument.
SUA also will hold two showings of Men in Black starring Will Smith at 7 and 9 p.m., Friday July 10 at Woodruff Auditorium in the Union.
"We have someone working to line up bands for the concert. We just don't have any confirmations yet."
Mike Fine
SUA program coordinator
Although the movies have been released on video, SUA expects a good turnout from new student orientation sessions, Schuler said.
A live concert is tentatively scheduled at the Jaybowl after the Men in Black showing.
"We have someone working to line up bands for the concert," said SUA program coordinator Mike Fine. "We just don't have any confirmations yet."
Both movies are free to students and concessions will be sold in the auditoriums.
For more information about SUA activities and events, call Mike Fine at 864-3477.
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