New reagent detects smallest traces of blood at crime scenes
   Georgia State University chemists have developed a new formula for a reagent that can detect even the smallest traces of blood at a crime scene. The product, developed by researchers Lucjan Strekowski and Gabor Patonay and already being used by Atlanta police, is at least 10 times more sensitive than similar crime-scene reagents on the market. Sprayed on a surface, the chemical produces an intense fluorescent reaction upon coming into contact with blood. The reaction lasts a couple of hours, allowing investigators more time to analyze blood-stain patterns and take photographs at crime scenes. Other products typically fade within 15 seconds. For more information, contact Lucjan Strekowski at lucjan@gsu.edu or 404-651-0999.

Sociologists chronicle the influence of intercourse
   Sex is more than just a biological impulse - the act also influences all kinds of social issues, including education, public health and crime, according to sociologists at Georgia State University. In their new textbook "Sex Matters: The Sexuality and Society Reader," five Georgia State faculty members look at sex from a sociological perspective. The book, aimed at sociology students but an interesting and easy read for anyone, contains more than 50 journal and newspaper articles, as well as personal narratives, that explore how society defines sex and how it exerts control over sexuality. "A lot of books about sex are biological and psychological, and looking at sex from a sociological perspective is a new field that this book caters to," said Mindy Stombler, one of the book's authors. "Sex Matters" challenges readers to question what counts as sex, presenting a variety of ways in which U.S. culture interprets sexuality and sexual activities. Researchers also discuss how society treats sexually transmitted diseases differently from other communicable diseases and controls the way people express their sexuality. For more information, call Mindy Stombler at 404-651-2806 or e-mail her at stombler@gsu.edu.

Dietary supplements bolster skaters' bad eating habits
   Professional athletes typically consume dietary supplements to build muscle and increase energy levels. But a recent study by Georgia State University nutritionists found that, surprisingly, elite figure skaters differ from their counterparts in other sports by taking fewer supplements and for different reasons. Figure skaters take supplements to make up for inadequate diets. "It is a profession in which they are judged not just on performance - appearance and body shape are very important. So figure skaters, especially women, tend to watch what they eat to remain thin," said researcher Satya Jonnalagadda. Her team was surprised to learn that elite figure skaters didn't take as many supplements as expected, considering their poor diets. Also, skaters tended to take more supplements such as echinecea to build up their immunity to respiratory illnesses. The study is published in the September issue of International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. For more information, call Satya Jonnalagadda at 404-651-1084 or e-mail sjonn@gsu.edu.

Iron deficiency anemia common but neglected
   Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in the United States, affecting nearly 60 percent of female athletes. Yet a recent study by Georgia State University nutritionists found that not all National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A schools screen female athletes for the deficiency. Even universities that do look for iron deficiency anemia don't conduct their screenings consistently or define the condition the same way. "I would like the NCAA to take this study as an advisement and develop policies for screening their students, particularly freshmen. If you catch the problem early, you can have simple interventions to improve the iron status before it develops into a full-blown deficiency," said researcher Christine Rosenbloom. University athletes who aren't screened for iron deficiency anemia may find themselves unable to compete. The study is published in the September issue of the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. For more information, contact Christine Rosenbloom at 404-651-1102 or e-mail crosenbloom@gsu.edu.

Biologist helping quell cat-scratch fever
   Georgia State University biologist Barbara Baumstark is paving the way for better treatment of cat-scratch fever, which can be fatal in patients with weak immune systems. Baumstark has discovered the genes of the cat-scratch disease bacterium that contain codes for proteins on the microbe's surface, providing the pathway for the disease's transmission. The cat-scratch bacterium is present in feline saliva and is transmitted to humans through a cat scratch or bite. Characterized by a high fever for four to six weeks, the disease can be fatal in people whose immune systems may not be functioning well, such as AIDS patients. In severe cases, the bacterium enters host cells, particularly blood cells, causing them to proliferate into tumors that erupt all over the body. For more information, call Barbara Baumstark at 404-651-3156 or e-mail biobrb@panther.gsu.edu.

Georgia State Leads: Business/Law is a quarterly e-mail tip sheet from the Department of University Relations. For more information about the publication, contact Beth Flannigan at 404-651-3576 or bflannigan@gsu.edu.

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