Expert Alert
March 2007

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A drug to “remove” traumatic memories of war for soldiers
March 21, 2007

American veterans of the war in Iraq, plagued by haunting and traumatic moments of combat, have hope to “erase” those memories with the experimental drug, propranolol. A University of Minnesota expert who can comment on the drug is:

Jonathan Gewirtz, professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota
Gewirtz can discuss how propranolol can help returning soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, how the drug works in combination with therapy and the ethical concerns with such types of treatment on the human psyche.

To interview Gewirtz, contact Drew Swain at (612) 625-8962 or dswain@umn.edu, or Asim Dorovic at (612) 624-0214 or dorovic@umn.edu.

Keeping your pet safe from poison
March 21, 2007

The Animal Poison Control Center at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that thousands of cats and dogs needlessly suffer and many die each year by accidental ingestion of household poisons. In 2006, the Animal Poison Control Center hotline managed more than 116,000 calls, a large number of which pertained to common household items such as human medications, insecticides and plants. University of Minnesota experts who can comment on this topic are:

Kelly Tart and Justine Lee, emergency service veterinarians at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center
Tart and Lee can address the importance of poison prevention in cats and dogs.

To interview Tart or Lee, contact Mariah Carroll at (612) 624-7231 or (612) 730-9346; or Asim Dorovic at (612) 624-0214 or dorovic@umn.edu.