Wall Street Journal
Study finds new cancer risk from hysterectomy device
7/22/14
A study published in JAMA found that using power morcellators to perform hysterectomies has the potential to spread more types of uterine cancer in a woman’s body than previously thought. Doctors not involved in the new study said the findings make it clear that the device is putting a segment of women at serious risk. “This just confirms it,” said Dr. David Mutch.
Los Angeles Times
Smoking may increase suicide risk, study says
7/17/14
Smoking and suicide may be more closely related than previously thought, according to a study by Dr. Richard A. Grucza. U.S. states with lower taxes on cigarettes and more lax policies on public smoking had suicide rates up to 6 percent greater than the national average. Other outlets: NBC News, New York Daily News, The Independent (UK), Delhi Daily News (India),China Topix.Related WUSM news release
Wall Street Journal
Isaiah Austin’s diagnosis boosts Marfan Syndrome awareness
7/16/14
Since former NBA draft prospect Isaiah Austin’s public disclosure of his Marfan Syndrome diagnosis, “our clinic has had an uptick of people calling in wanting to be checked out,” said Dr. Alan C. Braverman, director of the WUSM/BJH Marfan Syndrome Clinic.
Philadelphia Inquirer/HealthDay
High blood pressure may protect the very old from dementia
7/14/14
High blood pressure might stave off mental decline among the extreme elderly, according to research presented at the international meeting of the Alzheimer’s Association. The findings seem to “fit with what we know about high blood pressure,” said Dr. Catherine Roe. She added that while high blood pressure during middle-age is a risk factor for later development of dementia, it seems to become less of a risk factor for mental decline in old age.
Dallas Morning News
Landers: Data-driven predictions for better, less expensive health care
7/14/14
The article refers to a predictive tool at WUSM for patients newly diagnosed with cancer. The tool shows potential outcomes for different treatment options based on a worldwide cancer registry.
Voice of America
Study: Malaria parasite has Achilles heel
7/16/14
Researchers at WUSM have found a weakness in the malaria parasite that could lead to new drugs to fight infection, according to research published in Nature. Dr. Josh Beck said he and his team identified a single pore in the parasite that, when blocked, causes the parasite to ‘entomb’ itself and die. Related WUSM news release
KJRH-TV (Tulsa, OK)
Essential skills for college freshmen
7/14/14
Dr. Douglas Carlson shared tips to help college students stay healthy. Changing sheets, staying up to date on vaccinations and cleaning one’s room frequently prevent the spread of germs. He added that poor immune systems lead to more illness, so students should get plenty of rest, exercise and eat healthily.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Spiderman window washers brighten kids’ days at St. Louis Children’s Hospital
7/24/14
Window washers at SLCH donned Spiderman costumes, which created quite a stir among patients. “This is the first smile I’ve seen in days,” said one mom. Other outlets:Georgiaworld, Chron, Rare, Columbia Missourian, Daily Journal, Today Health Channel
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Supporters rally for young cancer patient
7/19/14
Dozens of friends traveled from Litchfield, Ill., to rally and cheer outside SLCH for a patient being treated for cancer.
KMOX -AM
Postponing chronic disease development means less time spent sick
7/24/14
Longevity researcher Dr. Luigi Fontana said the best way to prevent sickness and hospitalization in older adults may be to find ways to keep people healthier when they’re young and during middle age.
Related WUSM news release
Missourinet.com
Backers, critics argue significance of Missouri’s new ‘right to try’ law
7/16/14
Gov. Jay Nixon recently signed legislation allowing terminally patients who have exhausted conventional treatments to seek drugs, devices and products that are not yet FDA approved. However, Dr. John DiPersio explained no matter how the new law reads, it still is illegal to give a patient a drug still under development without FDA approval. “If you gave an investigational drug and the FDA found out about it … outside of a clinical trial, outside of their proper mechanism, then it could be potentially catastrophic for the patient, the physician and the institution,” DiPersio said.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Infants learn water survival techniques
7/21/14
Concerns over childhood drownings have sparked a recent trend of swimming lessons for very young children. The Infant Swimming Resource program teaches children as young as 6 months basic water safety techniques, including floating. Pediatric neurologist Dr. Brad Schlaggar cautions that children are developmentally very different and many may not have the motor skills to participate in swimming lessons so young. He also said that early swimming lessons should never give parents the false belief that their child can swim unattended – even for a second.
St. Louis American
Hazelwood School District partners with Healthy Kids Express
7/16/14
The SLCH Healthy Kids Express asthma van will provide free screening and asthma care for children in eight schools throughout the Hazelwood district. Asthma is the number one cause for school absences in St. Louis, as well as the leading cause for visits to the emergency room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
County health researchers to look into Coldwater Creek cancer questions
7/17/14
The St. Louis County health department plans to hire researchers to study chronic disease and cancer rates among residents, with a focus on the area surrounding Coldwater Creek. This area was contaminated decades ago with nuclear waste. Dr. Graham Colditz has said the number of appendix cancers in North County is larger than expected for the population.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
FDA investigates spray sunscreen danger
7/11/14
People with asthma or any respiratory problems should avoid spray sunscreen, according to pediatric nurse practitioner and asthma expert Anne Borgmeyer. She explains that the spray sunscreens release particles into the air that can trigger an asthma attack. Her recommendation supports current FDA guidelines cautioning against the use of spray sunscreens.
St. Louis American
Bone marrow transplantation shows potential for treating adults with sickle cell disease
7/15/14
A recent JAMA study found bone marrow transplantation showed promising results, according to Drs. Allison King and John DiPersio, who authored an accompanying editorial.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Father-son duo recovering from kidney transplant
7/24/14
An army veteran is recovering after donating a kidney to his 4-year-old son, who was born with a rare condition.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Are you getting enough iodine?
7/16/14
Common table salt is iodized, but prepackaged and restaurant-prepared foods often use alternate forms of salt, which do not contain iodine. According to Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann, iodine deficiency is particularly harmful for pregnant moms. Babies and young children who do not get enough iodine can experience developmental delays.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Former Yale hoops captain coming to Washington U.
7/22/14
Dr. Regis J. O’Keefe will become the new head of orthopedic surgery at WUSM and the chief orthopedic surgeon at BJH/SLCH Oct. 1.
Related WUSM news release
News Medical
Marmoset’s unique rapid reproductive system sheds new light on evolution and primate biology
7/21/14
Drs. Richard K. Wilson and Wesley Warren of Washington University Genome Institute were among the researchers who completed the genome sequence of the common marmoset. The marmoset represents a separate branch in the primate evolutionary tree that is more distant from humans than primates previously sequenced.
CBS News
U.S. News & World Report ranks best hospitals
7/15/14
BJH/WUSM ranked 17th in the annual list of best hospitals published by U.S. News & World Report.
International Business Times(India Edition)
Asthma inhalers may stunt children’s growth
7/17/14
Dr. Robert C. Strunk found that children who took budesonide were 1.2 centimeters (one-half inch) shorter than children who took an inhaled non-steroid medication nedocromil.
St. Louis Jewish Light
Commentary: Offering seniors a path to maintain independence
7/17/14
St. Louis is one of 26 states offering naturally occurring retirement communities, or NORCs. The community offers activities, a discounted emergency response system, discounts at local merchants and safety adaptations through the Washington University Occupational Therapy Clinical Practice.
Southeast Missourian
Grass-fed and family-owned: Bachmann brothers partner with Bryan Meyers at Three Spring Farms in Perry County
7/21/14
Dr. Bryan Meyers bought a farm in 2010 in Perryville, Mo., and established Three Spring Farms, a grass-fed cattle and poultry farm. Meyers said the enthusiastic support from many of his contacts in the medical community for products sourced from a prairie-modeled farm has played a large role in Three Spring Farms’ success.
St. Louis American
‘Emerging Researcher’ at Harris-Stowe
7/22/14
Harris-Stowe State University student Krystal Chandler placed first in a national genetic competition. Chandler, a senior majoring in biology with an emphasis in urban ecology, completed her summer research internship at The Genome Institute.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Ride-sharing app distributes ice cream to hospitalized kids
7/17/14
Ride sharing app Uber and St. Louis Rams players gave free ice-cream treats to kids at SLCH.
The Courier (U.K.)
Jack McNaughton on track for U.S. surgery
7/14/14
Six-year-old Jack McNaughton traveled to the United States for spinal surgery with Dr. T.S. Park to relieve his spasticity caused by cerebral palsy. He is planning to return for a follow-up procedure with Dr. Matt Dobbs to lengthen the tendons in his heels, making it even easier for him to walk independently.
