Wall Street Journal
Diabetes may be a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s, studies find
5/25/15
A recently published WUSM study in mice found that that raising blood sugar to abnormally high levels corresponded with increased production in the brain of amyloid beta, a protein thought to be an important factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Senior author David Holtzman commented. The research was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (WSJ subscription may be required.)
Other outlets: The Australian (subscription required), St. Louis Business Journal,
New Hampshire Voice, Diabetes News Journal
Related WUSM news release
NPR
Does a foreign accent mess up our memory of what’s said?
5/18/15
Postdoctoral researcher Kristen Van Engen and Dr. Jonathan Peelle are working to identify how hearing loss and accents affect health care. People who have hearing loss have a harder time recalling lists of words they’ve been asked to remember. Researchers thought the same would be true for accented speech, but study participants with no hearing issues didn’t have any more trouble remembering words spoken with an accent than they did words read by a native English speaker. These findings suggest that the brain deals with the challenges of accented speech differently than it does hearing loss. Other outlet: eScience News, Med City News
NBC News Today
Is your smartphone a pain? How to prevent it from causing your hands to suffer
5/29/15
Physical therapist Lynnette Khoo-Summers explained that overusing the thumb by typing too much on a mobile device could result in osteoarthritis of the thumb. She suggested resting and icing the thumb to relieve symptoms and not using the same muscles for other activities. For example, texting and then playing a video game may not be a good idea.
Nature
Medical research: Subject to reflection
5/27/15
Dr. Lukas Wartman is featured in this article highlighting researchers who work on a disease that affects themselves or a loved one. Wartman was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia while in medical school, had relapsed twice and was out of options. His postdoctoral advisor enrolled Wartman in a clinical trial that sequenced his genome and discovered a mutation that could be treated with a kidney cancer drug already on the market. Wartman went into remission, received a second bone marrow transplant and despite some complications, is back to work. He studies acute myeloid leukemia, which produces symptoms similar to those of his cancer but has a different genetic cause.
Fortune
Danone’s big bet on tiny bacteria
5/21/15
In an article highlighting the French company Danone’s research and development in the field of probiotics, Dr. Jeffrey I. Gordon’s research is referenced. Gerard Denariaz, director of strategic partnerships at Danone, credits Gordon’s work with germ-free mice as the evidence he needed to understand that microbiota appeared to have the power to remake the bodies of its hosts, for better or for worse. This body of research offers the possibility that science could restore balance to the microbiome by re-engineering what we eat.
Related WUSM news release
Huffington Post
Simplicity works in cancer prevention – for you and your kids
5/22/15
Dr. Graham Colditz shared simple steps to reduce cancer risk for adults and children. Among the tips: exercise, maintain a healthy weight, don’t smoke, eat slowly and get screening tests.
Related Siteman news release
FOX News
Soldier diagnosed with brain cancer delivers healthy baby after surgery
5/20/15
In 2013, Elizabeth Marek was diagnosed with gliobastoma while she was 24 weeks pregnant with her second child. Surgeons at WUSM/Siteman Cancer Center removed the tumor while she was pregnant, and her daughter was born premature but without complications. Now Marek is undergoing a treatment at Siteman in which she wears a device on her head every day that fights cancer cells for at least 18 hours. There is no cure for glioblastoma, but the treatment appears to be keeping the tumor from growing. (Fox network picked up the local Fox 2 story)
Other outlet:
KTVI-TV Fox 2
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(Front page story)
Drug that lowers cholesterol could be next advancement in HIV treatment
5/25/15
WUSM’s AIDS clinical trials unit was the first in the country approved to participate in the study looking at whether giving statins to HIV patients as part of their regular treatment will help reduce cardiovascular diseases. “It’s a very ambitious study for the HIV community, probably the biggest HIV study that’s been attempted anywhere in the world,” said Dr. David Clifford, who is leading the trial.
Related WUSM news release
KPLR-TV News 11
Stroke can strike infants, children and adults
5/25/15
May is stroke awareness month. Although stroke is often viewed as something that only happens to adults and elderly people, strokes also can strike infants, children and occur before birth. Neurologist Dr. Kristin Guillams was interviewed, along with patient parent Jessica Spear.
KTVI-TV FOX2
Washington University working on making smart pillows
5/19/15
WUSTL graduate Zimin Hang has partnered with classmates and professors in perfecting the science of sleep. Their company, Ultradia, has come up with a way of turning an average pillow into a smart pillow with a memory phone insert called Chrona. WUSM radiologist Dr. Linda Larson-Prior and research assistant Tracy Nolan are overseeing product testing and helping Hang and his colleagues follow scientific principles in their research.
St. Louis American
Archdiocese of St. Louis appoints Peace and Justice Commission
5/28/15
Archbishop Robert J. Carlson recently announced the appointment of 27 men and women who will serve on the Archdiocese of St. Louis’ Peace and Justice Commission, including Dr. Barbara Lutey.
KMOV-TV
The cost of gun violence in St. Louis
May 15, 2015
In a story highlighting the cost of gun violence in St. Louis, BJH provided cost estimates for treating gun-shot victims.
HEC-TV
Sleeper ship to Mars: Therapeutic hypothermia
5/26/15
A sleeper ship is one way to theoretically send people to Mars, by putting the spacecraft crew into a deep sleep while they travel. NASA backed a study by aerospace engineering firm, SpaceWorks Enterprises Inc., that is exploring how humans can be put into a prolonged deep sleep using therapeutic hypothermia. Therapeutic hypothermia is standard of care at hospitals for some trauma patients, including patients at SLCH. Dr. Amit Mathur was interviewed.
KSDK – NewsChannel 5
“It Can W8” campaign inspired by local teen
10/18/15
A local teenager who was almost killed in an accident caused by distracted driving has partnered with the trauma team at SLCH to curb similar behavior in her peers. Michele Herndon, trauma nurse coordinator, is interviewed. Other outlet: KZIM-AM (Cape Girardeau, M.) (no link available)
KSDK – NewsChannel 5
MomDocs offer tips for a healthy, kid-friendly summer
5/26/15
SLCH Mom Docs Kathleen Berchelmann, Dehra Gluec and Jackie Saito offered tips to ensure a healthy summer. Among the suggestions: make sure children wear helmets when riding bikes, set regular bedtimes and limit recreational screen time.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Beauty pills challenge skin-deep potions
5/18/15
In an article highlighting the growing market for supplements and creams to make skin appear younger, dermatologist Dr. Caroline Mann explained that the first thing everyone should do every morning is wear sunscreen and be mindful of sun exposure. She added that some people might be better off trying medical skin treatments that targets skin complaints immediately, before investing in expensive pills and serums that might take months to register modest improvements.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
How to choose the right sunscreen
5/26/15
Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann offered advice on how to choose the most appropriate sunscreen for children. She suggested parents look for broad spectrum products, with an SPF between 15 and 30. She also said it’s important to reapply every two hours.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Splish, splash, water safety starts in the bath
5/26/15
The emergency room at SLCH sees water-related emergencies year-round, but they increase when swimming pools open, said Dr. Kim Quayle. Another problem prevalent around water is sunburn. Vigilance in protecting children from sunshine affects future risk of cancer. Quayle teaches pediatric emergency medicine at WUSM.
KTVI-TV – Fox 2
New Children’s Hospital specialty care facility in Town & Country
5/20/15
The SLCH Specialty Care Center will open at I-64/Hwy 40 and Mason Road June 2, 2015. In anticipation of its opening, Channel 2 aired two live shots from the facility, the first an interview with hospital president Joan Magruder, the second with center director Julie Bruns and OR nurse Carolyn Davis.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Missouri hemp oil program slow to take off
5/27/15
Families were hopeful when Missouri agreed to allow the use of hemp extract to treat severe forms of epilepsy. But under Missouri’s law, hemp oil only can be obtained with the approval of a neurologist who must certify that more standard forms of treatment were ineffective at treating seizures. Both neurologists for one family refused to authorize the treatment, including a doctor who practices at WUSM. Spokeswoman Joni Westerhouse explained that there is little evidence demonstrating hemp oil’s effectiveness in treating epilepsy.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Moving crews, helicopters to rural areas gets patients to urban trauma centers faster
5/26/15
Starting July 1, SLCH will become the first freestanding children’s hospital to offer scene response services. SLCH is now training its transport teams to respond by helicopter directly to the scene of emergencies, along with local EMS providers, when the emergency involves a seriously injured child. And
instead of EMS crews taking a child to the nearest community hospital, where the patient is stabilized and prepared for transport to a large trauma center, the child gets specialty care by the team right away and can head directly to SLCH. Brandie Tieken, Debbie Turpin, and Barbi Berrong. Other outlet: Farmington Press.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Opinion: Medicaid pilot offers cost-saving solution for ‘Super Utilizers’
5/27/15
Dr. Randall Jotte explained why he supports the care management pilot for Medicaid “Super Utilizers” in Missouri in the Regional Care Coordination Program. Health-care Super Utilizers are among the 1 percent of the population that accounts for nearly one-fourth of our country’s health-care expenditures.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Uncork for a cause benefits Siteman Cancer Center
5/15/15
Matt Holliday is hosting a benefit for Siteman Cancer Center. Matt’s mother, Kathy, was treated for colon cancer at Siteman.
