Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2021)
NORTHWEST East Oregonian A2 Tuesday, January 5, 2021 Baker City native studying plant-based treatment for Parkinson’s Tanya Denne analyzing healing properties of the plant Mucuna By LISA BRITTON For the Baker City Herald BAKER CITY — Tanya Denne, a Baker City native who has been studying a plant that could help com- bat Parkinson’s disease, will graduate in 2021 from Bastyr University with a degree in naturopathic medicine. While working on her doctorate, she’s contin- ued to analyze the use of Mucuna pruriens and its potential in treating Parkin- son’s disease, a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement. According to Oregon Health & Science Univer- sity (OHSU), for unknown reasons Parkinson’s causes brain cells that make a chemical called dopamine to die. This leaves the brain without enough dopamine — a “neurotransmitter,” or chemical messenger — to signal nerves to trigger movement. Parkinson’s worsens over time. There is no cure. Drug treatments of levodopa/cabidopa focus on the dopamine system in the brain. According to Denne, Contributed Photo Tanya Denne graduated from the University of Portland and will graduate this year from Bastyr University in Seattle with a degree in naturopathic medicine. research has determined Mucuna seeds contain 3% to 7% levodopa. Denne’s interest in Mucuna stems from a per- sonal story — her grand- mother died of Alzheimer’s disease, and that inspired her to study neuroscience. After graduating from the University of Portland, she volunteered at OHSU in Portland to study Mucuna and Parkinson’s. In early 2016, she trav- eled to India for three months to study Mucuna in its native environment, and to collect seeds to study. That same year she started attending Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington, to pursue a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. Now, near the end of her WEDNESDAY Times of clouds and sun A little morning snow 50° 40° 47° 35° THURSDAY FRIDAY A little snow in the morning SATURDAY Chilly with rain Periods of clouds and sunshine PENDLETON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 45° 34° 42° 31° 40° 32° HERMISTON TEMPERATURE FORECAST 51° 40° 48° 34° 47° 36° 43° 30° 43° 32° OREGON FORECAST ALMANAC Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows. PENDLETON through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Seattle Olympia 47/42 Kennewick Walla Walla 50/43 Lewiston 48/43 52/40 Astoria 50/45 41/35 45/36 Longview 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Pullman Yakima 47/37 46/43 48/39 Portland Hermiston 51/46 The Dalles 51/40 Salem Corvallis 49/44 La Grande Yesterday Normals Records 41/36 PRECIPITATION John Day Eugene Bend 51/45 47/37 42/32 Ontario 44/30 44/30 40/23 0.09" 0.11" 0.16" 0.11" Trace 0.16" WINDS (in mph) Caldwell Burns 57° 42° 40° 27° 64° (1989) -4° (1942) 24 hours ending 3 p.m. Month to date Normal month to date Year to date Last year to date Normal year to date Albany 49/43 0.10" 0.15" 0.24" 0.15" 0.12" 0.24" Walla Walla Union-Bulletin WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Washington police arrested a Walla Walla man just on Saturday, Jan. 2, who is suspected of stealing from at least 10 victims in the area, police reported on Sun- day, Jan. 3. Antonio Ramon Lomeli, 22, of Walla Walla, is being held in the Walla Walla County Jail on $2,900 bail under investigation for second-degree burglary, fi rst-degree theft, fi rst-de- gree stolen property pos- session, fi ve counts of sec- ond-degree stolen property possession, unlawful pos- session of another’s ID card, traffi cking in stolen prop- erty, violation of controlled substance laws for metham- phetamine and fentanyl, pos- session of drug parapherna- lia and third-degree driving with a suspended license. A Walla Walla offi cer saw Ramon Lomeli at the Isaacs Street Chevron at about 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 2, and knew the man had war- rants for his arrest, accord- ing to police. When offi cers stopped Ramon Lomeli to arrest him for the warrants, they noticed tools in his vehi- through 3 p.m. yest. HIGH LOW TEMP. Pendleton 41/36 50/45 During her studies at HERMISTON Enterprise 50/40 48/39 53° 48° 40° 26° 69° (2012) -9° (2004) PRECIPITATION Moses Lake 48/42 Aberdeen 40/35 38/33 Tacoma Yesterday Normals Records Spokane Wenatchee 49/44 Mucuna progress Bastyr, Denne has worked on the Mucuna project by fi nding a farmer in Hawaii who could grow the seeds she brought from India. She’s also experimented with seed extracts and worked with colleagues from Bastyr and OHSU who have used the extracts in animal model studies. “It’s this really cool, multi-faceted project,” Man suspected in string of thefts arrested Forecast for Pendleton Area TODAY academic journey, Denne credits fundraising events in Baker City for support- ing her project. “It’s taken a whole com- munity and over a decade, and a huge majority of the original funding and sup- port started in Baker City,” she said. Denne said. She said results from the mice model showed increased tyrosine hydrox- ylase (TH), which suggests a neurorestorative property of the Mucuna extract. Further studies are planned, with a larger sam- ple size. And their research is fueling other projects. “Our research team is now collaborating with a fi eld research project in Africa, where it is esti- mated that only 9% of the population has access to conventional Parkinson’s medication,” she said. “We’re working with The Parkinson’s Institute in Italy, drafting and imple- menting sites to grow Mucuna as a source of levodopa for Parkinson’s treatment as a public health effort.” After graduating with her doctorate this year, Denne plans to complete a residency and wants to spe- cialize in neuro-focused care, such as Parkinson’s disease. She’d like to eventually return to practice in Baker City. “It really does take a vil- lage, and I am grateful to be from one that embodies core values of generosity, positive change, and com- passion,” she said. Boardman Pendleton Medford 48/39 Today Wed. SSE 4-8 SSE 6-12 SSW 4-8 SSE 7-14 SUN AND MOON Klamath Falls Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today 39/31 Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2021 7:36 a.m. 4:26 p.m. none 11:35 a.m. Last New First Full Jan 6 Jan 12 Jan 20 Jan 28 NATIONAL EXTREMES Yesterday’s National Extremes: (for the 48 contiguous states) High 85° in Zapata, Texas Low -9° in Angel Fire, N.M. NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY cle that matched those from thefts reported on Friday, Jan. 1. He was also fi ngered as a suspect from surveil- lance footage of a recent burglary. Offi cers secured a search warrant for the vehicle and on Jan. 3 reportedly discov- ered inside the stolen prop- erty from at least 10 local victims of vehicle prowls or burglaries. Detectives from the street crimes unit have reached eight victims as of midday Jan. 3 and were still trying to contact others to get prop- erty returned, according to the release. IN BRIEF Union County mountain rescue ends well UNION COUNTY — Search and rescue teams from Baker and Union counties on Sun- day, Dec. 27, reunited a pair of cougar hunters with their family. The Baker County Sheriff’s Offi ce Search and Rescue Team reported it received a request in the early hours of Dec. 27 to assist with the search for overdue hunters in Union County in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Friends of the hunters had been search- ing throughout the night and located their snowmobile on the 860 Road just north of the 77 Road. The Baker County SAR Team responded to the Taylor Green area off the Forest Service 77 Road, and Union County Search and Rescue established an emergency operations center. Baker County Sheriff Travis Ash and Lt. Ryan Downing set off in a tracked all-terrain vehicle to fi nd the missing hunters, but nei- ther that machine nor the snowmobile could go further due to the terrain and dense trees. The sheriff and lieutenant then continued on foot, following the missing pair’s tracks in the deep snow. Union County launched another team, and friends of the family joined the effort using snowmobiles. Ash located the pair a little after 9 a.m. on Dec. 27 in a deep canyon. They were cold and tired but uninjured, according to reports from the sheriff’s offi ces. The emergency opera- tions center crew used mapping technology to help the Union County team maneuver to the group. The tracked ATV transported Ash, Downing and the hunters to the staging area, where they were reunited with relieved family members. Oregon health care worker hospitalized after allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccine ENTERPRISE — A health care worker in Oregon was hospitalized after having a severe allergic reaction to the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The worker, an employee at Wallowa Memorial Hospital, experienced anaphylaxis after receiving a fi rst dose of the vaccine last week, offi cials said. The health authority said vaccines for COVID-19 can cause mild to moderate side effects in some people. This can include pain and swelling on the arm and sometimes fever, chills, tiredness and headache. “The Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention has reported that in rare cases, some people have experienced severe allergic reac- tions after getting a COVID-19 vaccine,” health offi cials said in a press release. “An allergic reaction is considered severe when a person needs to be treated with epinephrine or EpiPen, or if they must go to the hospital.” Health offi cials will continue to track adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccines. So far, 38,698 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines — 26,639 of Pfi zer-BioNTech and 12,054 of Moderna — have been adminis- tered in Oregon since the week of Dec. 13, offi cials said. — EO Media Group Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day. -10s -0s 0s showers t-storms 10s rain 20s flurries 30s snow 40s ice 50s 60s cold front E AST O REGONIAN — Founded Oct. 16, 1875 — 70s 90s 100s warm front stationary front high 110s low Circulation Dept. For mail delivery, online access, vacation stops or delivery concerns call 800-781-3214 Copyright © 2021, EO Media Group ADVERTISING Regional Sales Director (Eastside) EO Media Group: • Karrine Brogoitti Advertising Manager: SUBSCRIPTION RATES EZPay 52 weeks 26 weeks 13 weeks Local home delivery Savings (cover price) $9.75/month 50 percent $135 42 percent $71 39 percent $37 36 percent *EZ Pay = one-year rate with a monthly credit East Oregonian (USPS 164-980) is published Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, by the EO Media Group, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. Periodicals postage paid at Pendleton, OR. Postmaster: send address changes to East Oregonian, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801. CORRECTIONS: The East Oregonian works hard to be accurate and sincerely regrets any errors. If you notice a mistake in the paper, please call 541-966-0818. 541-963-3161 • kbrogoitti@eomediagroup.com 211 S.E. Byers Ave., Pendleton 541-276-2211 333 E. Main St., Hermiston 541-567-6211 Offi ce hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed major holidays EastOregonian.com In the App Store: 80s • Angela Treadwell 541-966-0827 • atreadwell@eastoregonian.com Multimedia Consultants: • Kelly Schwirse 541-564-4531 • kschwirse@eastoregonian.com • Audra Workman 541-564-4538 • aworkman@eastoregonian.com or debit card/check charge Business Offi ce Single copy price: $1.50 Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday • Dayle Stinson 541-966-0824 • dstinson@eastoregonian.com Classifi ed & Legal Advertising 1-800-962-2819 or 541-278-2678 classifi eds@eastoregonian.com or legals@eastoregonian.com NEWS • To submit news tips and press releases: call 541-966-0818 or email news@eastoregonian.com • To submit community events, calendar items and Your EO News: email community@eastoregonian.com or call Renee Struthers at 541-966-0818. • To submit engagements, weddings and anniversaries: email rstruthers@eastoregonian.com or visit eastoregonian. com/community/announcements • To submit sports or outdoors information or tips: 541-966-0838 • sports@eastoregonian.com COMMERCIAL PRINTING Commercial Print Manager: Holly Rouska 541-617-7839 • hrouska@eomediagroup.com