New York Times
Mothers’ exercise may lower heart risks in newborns, study suggests
4/8/15
WUSM pediatrics and genetics professor Dr. Patrick Jay led a new study in mice to determine what factors may lower the risk of heart defects in newborns. They found that exercise in mothers altered the risk equation. The study also suggests that the increased risk of congenital heart defects is tied to the age of the mother and not to the age of her eggs.
Related WUSM news release
New York Times
Kansas limits abortion method, opening a new line of attack
4/7/15
Kansas recently became the first state to sharply restrict or alter the most common technique used for second-trimester abortions. Dr. Colleen McNicholas explained that using a different technique that the new law would require could increase the chance of complications. McNicholas spoke on behalf of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Other outlets: Alaska Dispatch News
The Atlantic
Only 7 percent of teens are using the most effective form of birth control
4/9/15
In an article highlighting research on teens and birth control options, the WUSM CHOICE project was referenced.
Related WUSM news release
Washington Post
Even uncontacted Amazon tribe harbor bacteria resistant to antibiotics, study finds
4/20/15
A recent study found that people from an isolated tribe in Venezuela carried antibiotic resistance genes, even though they had no exposure to antibiotics. “These findings say the situation is almost worse (than we thought),” said study author Dr. Gautam Dantas. The research was published in Science Advances.
Other outlets: NBC News, Reuters/Yahoo! News, Science, LiveScience,
Channel News Asia,
HealthCanal
Related WUSM news release
Reuters
Weight loss linked to bone loss in middle-aged women
4/16/15
A recent study found that losing weight in middle age may mean losing bone density for women. Dr. Kathryn Diemer, who wasn’t involved in the study, said the loss of bone density in all the dieters looked to be quite small, about a 1 to 2 percent decrease. She added it’s important for obese patients to lose weight, and there are ways to prevent bone density loss.
Other outlet: Health 24
Huffington Post
Children raised in poverty have smaller brains
4/13/15
A major study has shown that kids who grow up in low-income families develop smaller brains than those raised in more affluent circumstances. The research, led by neuroscientists at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Columbia University Medical Center, is not the first to point out this phenomenon. A 2013 study at WUSM, led by Dr. Joan Luby, also found smaller brain volumes in people who had experienced poverty as young children, as well as difficulties with stress, memory and processing emotion.
Other outlet: U.S. News & World Report
Related WUSM news release
HealthDay
Gene variation could spur longer smoking, earlier cancer
4/17/15
A gene variation associated with smoking longer and getting lung cancer at a younger age has been identified by researchers. People usually are screened for lung cancer based on how much they smoke and their age, the researchers said. But this new study supports the idea of using genetic information to target people who might not be screened otherwise, according to first author Dr. Li-Shiun Chen. Other outlets: Fox News,
St. Louis Public Radio, Medical Xpress, Health Canal
Related WUSM news release
Yahoo!
Nine weird things that can trigger early menopause
4/18/15
A recent study published in PLOS ONE that analyzed exposure to 111 chemicals in women all over the United States found that those with the highest levels in their bodies experienced menopause 2 to 4 years earlier, compared with women with the lowest levels. “That’s actually an effect that’s more profound than smoking,” said lead study author Dr. Amber R. Cooper.
HealthDay
U.S. breast cancer cases could rise 50 percent by 2030
4/20/15
The rate of ER-positive breast cancer has been on the rise for decades. Dr. Graham Colditz said the increase in those cancers is thought to be related to certain “Western” lifestyle factors — such as obesity, lack of exercise and exposure to hormones (through birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, for example). Other outlet: Health.com
Huffington Post
For Parkinson’s patients, dancing the tango can help reconnect body and mind
4/17/15
In an article highlighting hospital programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in which tango lessons are offered to people suffering from mental illness, depression, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Gammon Earhart’s research is mentioned. “Two-year participation in a tango class was associated with improvements in the gravity of both motor and non-motor symptoms,” Earhart said.
Related WUSM news release
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
A sanitary pad can change the life of an Ethiopian girl, and a WU doctor aims to help
4/11/15
About one in 10 African girls either skip school during menstruation or have to drop out of school because they don’t have sanitary pads. Dr. Lewis Wall created the St. Louis-based charity Dignity Period with an aim to help distribute pads to 50,000 school-aged girls in its first year.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Comparing immunotherapy to other cancer weapons
4/9/15
In an article highlighting the use of immunotherapy to treat cancer, Dr. Gerald P. Linette explained recent research from WUSM that found personalized melanoma vaccines prompted a powerful immune response against unique mutations in patients’ tumors. Other outlets: BioNews, Melanoma News Today, Latinos Health, Medical News Today
Related WUSM news release
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Parents Talk Back chat
4/1/15
Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann answered questions in a monthly parenting chat with columnist Aisha Sultan. Topics included diet and weight loss methods suitable for kids.
The Economic Times (India)
New study points to potential Ebola drug target
4/12/15
Interfering with the replication of the Ebola virus can stop it in its tracks, opening the door to potential treatments for the deadly disease, according to recent WUSM research. The protein removes a protective coat from the virus’s genetic material, exposing the viral genome so that it can be copied, and then returns the coat. “If we can block this process, we can stop Ebola infection by blocking viral replication,” said senior author Dr. Gaya Amarasinghe.
Related WUSM news release
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
BJC HealthCare takes over operations of psychiatric center
4/9/15
BJC HealthCare has taken over operations and ownership of the St. Louis Regional Psychiatric Stabilization Center, a 25-bed adult inpatient acute psychiatric program in St. Louis. Barnes-Jewish Hospital is operating the facility, and medical staffing is being overseen by physicians in the Department of Psychiatry at WUSM.
Sporting News
Rightful GO! St. Louis Marathon winner honored before Cardinals game
4/19/15
Washington University doctoral student Andrea Karl was the top female finisher in the GO! St. Louis Marathon on April 12 but wasn’t awarded the medal right away because of a confusing set of circumstances in which another runner claimed to be the victor. A week later she recreated the win, after running the warning track at Busch Stadium before a St. Louis Cardinal’s game, and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Other outlets:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Huffington Post, CBS Sports, KTVI-TV Fox 2,
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5, WXIA-TV (Atlanta, Ga.), New England Public Radio
Related WUSM news release
News Medical
Study examines effective ways to explain key insurance details to uninsured people
4/8/15
A recent WUSM study is one of the first to examine effective ways to explain key insurance terms and details to people who never have had health insurance. First author Dr. Mary Politi said the three methods tested — using side-by-side comparisons of available insurance plans, using graphics that allow enrollees to review individual plan benefits, and using plain language to take enrollees through the steps of comparing plans and enrolling — were all very helpful. Other outlet: Medical Xpress
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Dr. John W. Olney: pioneering brain scientist
4/16/15
Obituary of brain researcher Dr. John W. Olney, highlighting many of his research findings.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (premium content, subscription required)
McClellan: A guinea pig who beat cancer
4/18/15
Columnist Bill McClellan interviewed Kent Haffer, who had metastatic melanoma. Haffer participated in a research study testing a vaccine created with information from his tumor. The vaccine provoked a response from his immune system. Dr. Gerald Linette, Dr. Beatriz Carreno and Dr. Elaine Mardis led the study.
All Africa
Nigeria: High malaria resistance, drug cost threaten elimination efforts
4/7/15
In an article highlighting distribution of malaria-fighting drugs in sub-Saharan Africa, research from Dr. Audrey Odom is referenced. She found that the malaria parasite produces a class of compounds that attracts mosquitoes. That means if mosquitoes can smell malaria-born compounds, they may be detectable through a noninvasive test similar to a breathalyzer.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
4/6/15
Peggy Gordin joins Great Circle’s board of directors
Peggy Gordin has joined Great Circle’s board of directors. Gordin currently serves as vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Other outlet: The St. James Leader Journal
WAND-17
4/13/15
Update: Recovering after a heart transplant
A little girl is back home in Central Illinois with a new heart. WAND first told you about Mildred Eynon in January when she was recovering in St. Louis Children’s Hospital after receiving a heart transplant.
The Record (Orange County, Texas)
National child abuse prevention month reminds of the effects of bad parenting
4/16/15
In an article highlighting the importance of ‘good parenting’ on child development, WUSM research that found children who have nurturing mothers have much larger, healthier brains than neglected children. In addition, the research showed that the hippocampi of neglected children were up to 10 percent smaller than those of children with caring, loving mothers.
Related WUSM news release
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
40,000 toys for sick St. Louis children and counting
4/16/15
The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild has been donating toys to help sick children for 20 years. They are celebrating the donation of their 40,000th toy. Child Life Specialist Pamela Aubuchon is interviewed. Other outlet: The Republic.
Newmarket Journal
Company’s boost for Seb’s Legs campaign
4/3/15
A company has joined forces with a child’s local community to enable him to travel to St. Louis for selective dorsal rhizotomy with Dr. T.S. Park to relieve muscle spasicity due to cerebral palsy. The procedure has drawn hundreds of families from multiple countries to St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Other outlet: The Daily Record
List Verse
Ten things we’ve learned about schizophrenia in the 21st century
4/16/15
In an article highlighting 10 advances in schizophrenia, research from Drs. Jessica A. Wojtalik and Deanna Barch is referenced. They conducted a study looking at the relationship between memory-processing between schizophrenics who were former substance abusers and those who were not substance abusers.
