Digest -- U.Va. Top News Daily

Photo by Dan Addison

George A. Obiozor, ambassador of Nigeria

Nigerian Ambassador’s Talk Kicks Off Lecture Series
Historically, the relationship between the United States and Nigeria has “been one of uneasy friendship,” but current relations are “more cordial and fruitful” than at any time since the late 1990s, said George A. Obiozor, ambassador from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, during the inaugural speech for U.Va.’s new Ambassador Lecture Series. Obiozor’s talk on Feb. 22 focused on peacekeeping efforts in Africa, the war on terrorism, drug and human trafficking, and trade and oil production. Sponsored by U.Va.’s Diplomat Scholar Program, the Ambassador Lecture Series features international diplomats speaking to students and others in the U.Va. community about key political, economic, cultural and technological issues of global interest. (Feb. 24)

Researchers Use Tiny Bubbles to Setect ‘Crohn’s Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, also known as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, affects about 600,000 Americans each year. Until now, there has been no one single test to diagnose the often painful and debilitating disease. Doctors at the Health System have successfully tested in animals a new, non-invasive technique that uses tiny microbubbles to detect the disease early. The outside lipid shell of these microbubbles is coated with antibodies to specific molecules that are over- expressed during intestinal inflammation. The tiny bubbles, which attach themselves to these molecules, can be seen through ultrasound, allowing doctors to evaluate the severity and extent of inflammation in the intestine. (Feb. 17)