Fox News
Researchers create test to detect every virus that infects people, animals
9/30/15
Researchers at WUSM have created a test to detect any virus that infects people and animals, eliminating the need for doctors to perform multiple tests before confirming a diagnosis. Senior author Dr. Gregory Storch said, “We think the test will be especially useful in situations where a diagnosis remains elusive after standard testing or in situations in which the cause of a disease outbreak is unknown.” Dr. Todd Wylie also commented.
Other outlets: USA Today, Health News Digest, Infection Control Today,
United Press International, St. Louis Business Journal, KMOX radio
Related WUSM news release
The Scientist
Microbiome meals
10/1/15
Drs. Jeffrey Gordon and Meng Wu developed a new method of tracking genetic changes in gut bacteria in mice and have identified some of the genes bacteria use to adapt to changes in diet.
Scientific American
A massive global effort maps how the brain is wired
10/2/15
In an article highlighting the global effort under way to map how the brain is wired, Dr. David Van Essen commented. Van Essen is the lead investigator of the Human Connectome Project.
Other outlet: Heritage Daily
Related WUSM news release
Washington Post
I had a thousand worries about my baby’s cleft lip. One of them was Facebook.
9/29/15
Kristin Gill is a mother and blogger whose third child was born with cleft lip and palate. The Washington Post picked up a recent article on her blog about the concerns she had about having a baby with a facial anomaly and the support her family received from their care team at St. Louis Children’s Hospital – led by Dr. Albert Woo.
San Francisco Chronicle
Cancer glasses detect tiny tumors
10/1/15
In article highlighting ‘cancer goggles’ developed in Dr. Sam Achilefu’s lab, graduate student Dr. Suman Mondal commented.
Other outlet: Inside Science
Related WUSM news release
Health Day
Beet juice boosts muscle power in heart patients
9/21/15
A new study at WUSM found that heart failure patients who drink a small amount of beet juice show improvement similar to heart failure patients who have done two to three months of resistance training. Drs. Linda R. Peterson and Andrew R. Coggan commented.
Related WUSM news release
United Press International
Two-drug combination helps older adults with depression
9/28/15
Dr. Eric J. Lenze found that adding a second drug can relieve depression in many older adults whose symptoms don’t resolve after treatment with a standard antidepressant drug. The second drug, Abilify, was found to work in younger people, but Lenze emphasized that even when a strategy works for patients in their 30s, it needs to be tested in patients in their 70s due to age-related changes to the brain and body.
Other outlets: WebMD, Pharmacy Times
Related WUSM news release
Scientific American
How your brain is wired reveals the real you
9/28/15
Drs. Marcus Raichle and Deanna Barch commented on research published in Nature Neuroscience from the Human Connectome Project. The research showed that the brain’s wiring patterns can shed light on a person’s positive and negative traits. Other outlet: Yahoo!
Related WUSM news release
Forbes
Cancer vaccines make a comeback, as Third Rock pumps $55M into Neon Therapeutics
10/1/15
In an article highlighting a start-up company looking to develop a neoantigen-based therapeutic vaccine and T cell therapies to treat cancer, Dr. Robert Schreiber’s research is referenced. Schreiber is one of the scientific founders of the company, Neon Therapeutics.
Other outlet: xconomy
Fortune
A better way to treat cancer
9/26/15
In an article highlighting precision medicine, Dr. Lukas Wartman’s case is referenced. (The article doesn’t mention Wartman by name)
Related WUSM news release
Nature
Human Genome Project: Twenty-five years of big biology
9/28/15
The Human Genome Project recently celebrated 25 years in existence. Dr. Eric D. Green led the effort at WUSM and he, along with James D. Watson and Francis Collins, coauthored a retrospective of the U.S. National Center for Human Genome Research, now called the National Human Genome Research Institute. Dr. Green is no longer at WUSM.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
(front page)
Tattoo marks entrance in new club — future cancer survivor
9/26/15
Dr. Brian Nussenbaum commented in a column about how human papillomavirus (HPV) caused throat cancer.
St. Louis Public Radio
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, what more do we know about the disease in 2015?
9/25/15
Dr. John Morris joined host Don Marsh on “St. Louis on the Air” to discuss experimental therapies to prevent Alzheimer’s-related dementia in people who have a genetic mutation that all but assures they will develop Alzheimer’s disease.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Cyclists “Stand Up To Cancer” in cross-country tour
9/23/15
Dr. Elaine Mardis explained the importance of funding organizations like Stand Up to Cancer to further cutting-edge cancer research.
St. Louis Public Radio
How to talk about death, and why it matters
9/28/15
In an article highlighting end-of-life care and advanced directives, palliative care physician Dr. Maria Dans commented.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Researchers find link between genes and concussions
9/28/15
Researchers say a cheek swab can identify a gene that indicates elevated concussion risk. Dr. Mark Halstead explained the possible drawbacks to the test, which is not yet widely available.
BioWorld
Gut bacteria could be the key to preventing asthma
10/1/15
In an article highlighting a link between gut bacteria and asthma, Dr. Jeffrey Gordon’s research was referenced. The article also mentioned that Gordon was named a 2015 Thomson Reuters Citation Laureate, a designation that puts him on a short list of potential Nobel Prize winners.
Other outlet: Dispatch Times
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Are you taking too much aspirin? Not enough?
9/22/2015
The FDA issued new recommendations regarding how much low-dose aspirin some people should take to help prevent heart attacks, strokes and colorectal cancer. Dr. David Brown explained how aspirin can help but also why everyone should talk to their doctor before they begin aspirin therapy.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Low-nicotine cigarette may aid in reducing smoking habit, study says
9/30/15
Recent research found that lower amounts of nicotine in cigarettes may pave the way to helping smokers reduce their dependence. Dr. Walt Sumner, who was not involved in the study, commented.
KING-TV (Seattle, Wa.)
Mosquito virus may hold clues about arthritis
10/1/15
Dr. Jonathan Miner explained that the Chikungunya virus often is misdiagnosed because symptoms mimic rheumatoid arthritis. He hopes studying the arthritis-like symptoms present with Chikungunya will help him gain insight into the immunological mechanisms that drive joint inflammation.
Related WUSM news release
KMOV-TV
Specialist weighs in on veteran’s condition
9/28/15
Dr. Neill Wright offered an explanation on traumatic injury to the spinal cord in light of the shooting of a veteran in a robbery attempt near Busch Stadium.
WTVM-TV (Columbus, Ga.)
Is there such a thing as healthy obesity?
9/29/15
Jennifer Boeving was part of a study at WUSM that asked obese participants to gain 6 percent of their body weight to determine if all obese people are in danger of suffering from metabolic problems when they gain additional weight. Dr. Samuel Klein said the study showed those who are metabolically normal to begin with were able to defend themselves against the metabolic abnormalities associated with excess body fat and that are risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Those who were metabolically abnormal at the start were at increased risk.
Other outlet: WFMZ-TV (Allentown Pa.)
St. Louis Public Radio
The St. Louis heroin epidemic: barriers to treatment
9/30/15
In an article highlighting the heroin epidemic in St. Louis and insufficient resources to help those who are addicted and want help, Dr. Laura Bierut commented.
KTRS radio
It’s the perfect time to get your flu shot
10/2/2015
Dr. Steven Lawrence explained why now is the perfect time to get a flu shot and outlined the facts and myths regarding flu vaccines. Other outlet: St. Louis American
St. Louis Business Journal
Bhayani named Washington University School of Medicine’s FPP chief medical officer
9/23/15
Dr. Sam Bhayani was named WUSM’s Faculty Practice Plan chief medical officer. In the newly-created position, Bhayani will work closely with Dr. James Crane to help design and implement a unified electronic patient medical record system, among other projects.
Related WUSM news release
KMOV-TV
Local university using technology to help fight human trafficking
9/22/15
According to the Department of Justice, St. Louis is a hub for human trafficking, but there is no centralized database that quantifies or even maps the problem. Dr. Rumi Price and collaborators at the University of Missouri are working to determine geographic locations that will help law enforcement target traffickers.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
STLMoms: Trouble getting kids to sleep
9/21/15
Approximately 30 percent of school-aged children struggle to get to sleep and stay asleep. Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann details ways to win the bedtime battle.
KSDK-TV Newschannel 5
Trauma center team members provide needed care to St. Louisans
9/23/201
Dr. Douglas Schuerer and trauma nurse Pam Stelling explained how they deal with tough cases and how the BJH trauma center works to take care of the most severely injured in our community.
PsychCentral
Cognitive behavior therapy can ease heart failure patients’ depression
9/29/15
A new study reveals that a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention that targeted both depression and heart failure self-care was partly successful. Researchers led by Dr. Kenneth Freedland discovered CBT was effective for depression but not for heart failure self-care or physical functioning, when compared to enhanced usual care.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
St. Louis Children’s Hospital receives grant from Hyundai for cancer research
9/22/15
Dr. Todd Druley received a $250,000 grant from Hyundai Hope on Wheels, the philanthropic branch of the Hyundai car company. The grant will fund research to develop better and more targeted treatments for kids whose cancers recur.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Cardinals outfielder suffers head contusion
9/29/2015
In a violent collision in the outfield, Stephen Piscotty suffered a serious head contusion. Dr. Ralph Dacey explained the concerns when it comes to head contusions and the next steps for a baseball player recovering from such an injury.
Buffalo News (N.Y.)
Innovation districts across the United States
9/29/15
In an article highlighting innovation districts across the United States, the Cortex Innovation Community in St. Louis is mentioned. Major tenants include WUSM, St. Louis University and BJC Healthcare.
KSDK – NewsChannel5
Lorelai Clubb trying to get Taylor Swift’s attention
9/28/15
Lorelai Clubb, a cancer patient at SLCH, worked with her music therapist, a child life specialist and nurses to create a music video using her own words to Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off.”
Other outlets: KTVI-Fox2, The Daily Mail (United Kingdom)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Barnes-Jewish to use Children’s helipad, Forest Park to land medevac patients
9/25/15
While BJH makes improvements to its helipad, medevac patients will land either at the helipad at SLCH or a field in nearby Forest Park. Forest Park will only be considered if the SLCH’s helipad is in use. An ambulance will transport patients to the hospital.
KMOV-TV
Help support cancer research during KMOV, Pedal the Cause telethon
9/30/15
Karen Kharasch commented on the importance of fundraisers like Pedal the Cause for cancer research.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Add a touch of pink to your hair for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
9/27/15
Jon Tomas Salon and Spa stylists are selling pink hair extensions for $10 during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month. All proceeds will benefit Siteman Cancer Center. They hope to raise $2,000.
Global News
Child poised for surgery in U.S., despite being denied OHIP funding
9/25/15
The Mitchell family from Toronto will travel to St. Louis in order for 3-year-old Bentley to have selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery with Dr. T.S. Park. The goal of the surgery is to relieve spasticity caused by cerebral palsy. Other outlets: Guelph Mercury, Worcester News
St. Louis Blues
Schwartz Family, Blues ride for good cause
10/1/15
Blues season ticket holder Bill Eades, who also works at Siteman Cancer Center, participated in Pedal the Cause, a fundraiser that donates all proceeds to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and to Siteman Cancer Center. Eades’ daughter died in 2011 after a year-and-a-half battle with leukemia. Eades’ son Jaden wears no. 17 for the St. Louis Blues.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
King for a day: home brewer’s winning recipe made at A-B
9/25/15
Dr. Jeff Michalski is a radiation oncologist at Siteman Cancer Center and a home brewer for nearly 25 years. He developed a beer he calls “The Graduate” to celebrate graduations for his high school and college-aged children. This fall, his beer will be served at Ballpark Village for his home brewer-club friends.
