The Atlantic
The new way to love food
1/23/2014
Research in rodents has shown that intermittent fasting – eating about ¼ of the normal diet one day and eating as much as desired the following day –promoted weight loss overtime. Now, researchers are studying people to see if fasting two days a week could offer health benefits. Dr. Luigi Fontana said, “It’s astonishing how simple dietary intervention can change how the human body works.” To Fontana’s eye, people who practice fasting and calorie restriction “are going to live longer than their parents or brothers [who are] on the typical Western diets.”
Related WUSM news release
New York Times
Obesity is found to gain its hold in earliest years
1/29/2014
A major new study of more than 7,000 children has found that one-third of children who were overweight in kindergarten were obese by eighth grade. And almost every child who was very obese remained that way. Part of the reason it is difficult to help obese children is that effective programs for young children involve time and effort, and the costs are not reimbursed by health insurers, said Dr. Denise Wilfley.
Huffington Post
Research links severe mental illness and substance use
1/28/2014
WUSM and the University of Southern California conducted a study of nearly 20,000 individuals, including 9,142 who were diagnosed with severe psychotic illnesses. They found that those with a severe mental illness engaged in more binge drinking and heavier cigarette and marijuana use compared with those who were mentally healthy.
Related WUSM news release
Los Angeles Times
Philip Seymour Hoffman dies amid major comeback of heroin in the U.S.
2/3/2014
Hundreds of thousands of Americans have been turning to heroin in recent years, and officials across the country are sounding the alarm as fatal overdoses have more than doubled in some states over the last decade. “This last year, we’ve seen a big uptick in heroin use. It’s become rapidly very popular,” said neuropharmacologist Dr. Theodore J. Cicero. “We’re seeing patterns of heroin abuse increasing across the population, but now it’s becoming a rural and suburban issue rather than an urban issue.” Other outlets: Reuters, South China Morning Post
Health Day
Babies born to moms over 35 may have lower risk for certain birth defects
2/4/2014
Contrary to popular belief, new research has found that babies born to women in their late 30s and 40s have lower risks for certain types of physical deformities. “Findings from this study may provide some reassurance for these women regarding the likelihood of having an anatomically normal child,” said Dr. Katherine Goetzinger. Other outlets:
Daily Mail (UK), Yahoo! News, MSN, Science Daily, OnlyMyHealth,
International Business Times
Yahoo! News
New drug breakthrough brings osteoporosis cure closer to reality
2/3/2014
Working in mice, researchers at WUSM have discovered a new drug that appears to be a potent stimulator of new bone growth. The finding may lead to new treatments for osteoporosis and other diseases that occur when the body doesn’t make enough bone. The research focused on a pathway involved in bone formation. Other outlets: News-Medical, Firstpost (India)
Related WUSM news release
WebMD
Your child’s nutrition: The power of parents
1/24/2014
In one large survey of kids under age 12, mom and dad ranked highest as their children’s nutrition role models — the persons the kids most wanted to be like, reports registered dieticianMarilyn Tanner-Blasier. Nearly 70 percent of children reported they were likely to talk with mom or dad about nutrition and their body size. “If mom and dad spent most of their time sitting around watching TV, leading an inactive lifestyle, kids did the same,” says Tanner-Blasier.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Front page)
Kansas boy gets rare surgery in St. Louis
2/2/2014
Thirteen-year-old Devin Graham nearly lost his hand during a freak accident involving a rope and a motorized wagon. Physicians in his home-town of Wichita, Kan., told him they’d have to amputate four of his fingers. But Dr. Charles Goldfarb performed a complicated surgical procedure at SLCH, which saved Devin’s fingers. Goldfarb said he knew the procedure offered no guarantees, but as a child, “he has deserved every chance to try and save his hand.” Other outlet: Columbia Missourian
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Did the Biggest Loser lose too much?
2/5/2014
Recent Biggest Loser winner Rachel Fredrickson started the show at 260 pounds and dropped to 105. At 5’4″, that puts her body mass index at 18, which is lower than the population norm. Dr. Sam Klein explained that since Rachel lost the weight through diet and strenuous physical activity, she doesn’t have to worry about having a body mass index that is too low. The problem, he said, will be keeping the weight off.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Afghan war vets, St. Louis researchers seek answers on head injuries
1/27/2014
New policies are in place to screen for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the battlefield, but it’s still a finicky area. Concussions don’t show up on traditional CT or MRI scans the way a broken leg or cancer will. Washington University School of Medicine’s TBI research has gained notoriety. Neurologist Dr. David Brody said researchers just closed enrollment on a study of 178 military personnel with TBI. Other outlets: Military.com
KMOX Radio
High/low temps blamed for increase in sinus infections
1/24/2014
St. Louis doctors say they’re seeing increasing numbers of patients with sinus infections, and the swinging temperatures may be to blame. Dr. H. James Wedner said his staff has seen a significant uptick in sinus infections due to the dry, cold weather. “When the nose becomes dry, it’s a very good site to breed infections, and that infection can easily slip into your sinuses. Once the weather warms up, the infection grows, and people who had a mild infection now have a much worse one.” Other outlets: KMOV-TV (no link)
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
Protecting yourself from norovirus
1/27/2014
After 600 people came down with the norovirus on a cruise ship, Dr. Dave Warren joined KSDK-TV and explained that the best way to avoid contracting the virus is by thoroughly washing the hands. He also said it’s important to clean with bleach areas suspected to be infected.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Can HGH really boost athletic performance?
2/3/2014
Dr. Kevin Yarasheski studies human growth hormone in the lab. He says he found little difference between hormone-takers and regular exercisers with regard to muscle strength, size, bulk and growth rate. However, he said the drug can give a performance boost to superior athletes at the pro or Olympic level, those levels where an inch or a hundredth of a second, can be the difference between winning and losing.
KWMU St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Flu Cases Down After New Year Surge
1/24/2014
After spiking in early January, cases of the flu appear to have subsided in the St. Louis area. Many older people have a stronger resistance to the virus due to flu pandemics that swept the country from 1918 to the late 1950s. “In 2009 we had the emergence of this H1N1 strain, and that was a very severe flu season,” said Dr. Steve Lawrence. “Over the last couple of years here in the St. Louis we have not seen a lot of activity of H1N1. So, this is the first season that has been H1N1-predominant since the pandemic in 2009.”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Barnes-Jewish machine gives real-time view of tumors while delivering radiation
2/6/2014
Two lung cancer patients at BJH are the first to receive radiation therapy in the new ViewRay machine, which allows for real-time clear imaging of their tumors as treatment is being delivered. The ViewRay machine was developed by WU doctoral graduate, Jim Dempsey, who brought his invention back to his alma mater for a clinical trial in 2011. Other outlets: Health Canal, St. Louis Business Journal Related WUSM news release
St. Louis Business Journal
40 under 40 you need to know
2/6/2014
Dr. Ryan Fields helped form a research team that connects Siteman Cancer Center and The Genome Institute at Washington University in an effort to determine what makes a tumor that spreads different from a primary tumor. The research is being funded by a $1 million, two-year grant from Pedal the Cause and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Wash U. looking for participants for Essential Trial study
2/6/2014
Dr. Shelby Sullivan explained a new weight-loss study for people 30-100 pounds overweight. The study is evaluating a procedure, performed through the mouth that is designed to reduce the stomach’s ability to stretch during meals. This may help people feel full and satisfied with smaller portions.
Medical XPress
First patient treated with novel proton therapy system
1/27/2014
A 33-year-old man from Leasburg, Mo., was the first patient to receive a highly accurate form of radiation treatment from the world’s first proton system of its kind. The treatment was administered last month at Siteman Cancer Center at BJH and WUSM. Related WUSM news release
KTVI-TV FOX 2
Heart disease is No. 1 killer of women
2/1/2014
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of U.S. women, claiming more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined. Dr. Jennifer Lawton said women should know the warning signs and how to prevent the disease. “The best thing women can do is stop smoking, lower high blood pressure and cholesterol, and aim for a healthy weight,” said Dr. Lawton. “Two out of three women in this country are overweight or obese, so women need to get out and exercise at least five times a week.”
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
February raises awareness about heart health
2/6/2014
Heart disease is the number one cause of death for women and men. Dr. Jennifer Lawton, a cardiac surgeon explained that while the medical community has addressed the risk factors of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, other risk factors like obesity and sedentary lifestyle have become an epidemic and need to be addressed more effectively. She also shared the warning signs of a heart attack.
KWMU St. Louis Public Radio
Cardiologist speaks on snow, sugar and other dangers to the heart
2/5/14
Dr. Andrew Kates joined Don Marsh on St. Louis On the Air to talk about ways to prevent heart disease. He also shared information about a new study that links eating too much sugar with dying of heart disease and explained why shoveling snow can induce a heart attack. “Being out in the cold and exerting oneself can increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and it can cause some stress on the arterial wall leading plaques to break loose that result in a heart attack,” Kates said.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Schoolwork? There’s an app for that
1/28/2014
Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann said that certain apps can compliment a child’s class work. She recommended parents and kids check out Khan Academy, Brainscape and DreamBox among others.
KSDK-TV NewsChannel 5
MomDocs join Show Me St. Louis for a sleepy subject
2/3/2014
A panel of MomDocs from SLCH joined ShowMe St. Louis to share their differing perspectives on getting babies to sleep. Among their insights, moms who train their babies to go to sleep have a lower incidence of depression.
Liberty Voice
Weight loss secret: Turn down the thermostat
1/24/2014
Turning down the thermostat is, apparently, the most recent secret to successful weight loss. Researchers suggest that losing weight can involve more than just focusing on a healthy lifestyle. Some other tips to help with weight loss include cutting calories from the diet. According to Dr. Samuel Klein, cutting out two ounces of potato chips, or about 300 calories, produces similar results to going on a three-mile run.
Financial Express (India)
Rs 225 core brain research centre to come up in Bangalore
1/30/2014
Dr. John Morris has been named to an advisory council for a new brain research center in Bangalore, India. The Centre for Brain Research will study brain function to find cures for neurodegenerative conditions and diseases. Other outlets: International Business Times
Pacific Standard Magazine
Girls’ immune systems rule, boys drool
1/24/2014
Dr. Michael White explains the reasoning behind the idea that women probably have stronger immune systems than men. One theory is that sex hormones, like estrogen and testosterone, may directly influence many components of the immune system.
Bleacher Report
How will players, medical staffs prepare for Super Bowl XLVIII’s cold weather?
1/28/2014
According to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Matthew Matava, also president of the NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) and head team physician for the St. Louis Rams, preparation for the Super Bowl weather begins well before kickoff. “The team doctors and athletic trainers always recommend that players be especially vigilant to stretch prior to playing in the cold and to maintain joint flexibility and muscle elasticity by remaining active when not in the game,” Matava remarked. “There will be a stationary bicycle on the sideline for this purpose.”
News-Medical
Neurologist receives Perl-UNC Neuroscience Prize for remarkable research on persistent brain activity
1/28/2014
The University of North Carolina School of Medicine has awarded the 14th Perl-UNC Neuroscience Prize to Dr. Marcus Raichle, who has made remarkable research findings about the persistent brain activity of our at-rest minds.
Medical XPress
New target explored for psychiatric drug development
1/29/2014
Investigators at WUSM and elsewhere report that a molecule known as an oxysterol helps control a different type receptor in the brain that is key in cognitive function. This may be a target for developing new drugs to treat schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
Related WUSM news release
Science Daily
Childhood depression may increase risk of heart disease by teen years
1/30/2014
New research at WUSM and elsewhere suggests that children with depression are more likely to be obese, smoke and be inactive, and can experience symptoms of heart disease as early as their teen years. The research also notes that depression may increase the risk of heart problems later in life. Other outlets: Medical XPress, Psych Central, Science Codex
Related WUSM news release
Science Daily
Trick identified that aids viral infection
1/30/2014
Scientists at WUSM in St. Louis and elsewhere have identified a way some viruses protect themselves from the immune system’s efforts to stop infections, a finding that may make new approaches to treating viral infections possible. Related WUSM news release
Science 2.0
Study shows 1 in 5 women with ovarian cancer has inherited predisposition
1/31/2014
A new WUSM study conservatively estimates that one in five women with ovarian cancer has inherited genetic mutations that increase the risk of the disease. “This tells us that we need to find better ways to screen women for ovarian cancer, even if they don’t have family histories of the disease,” said Dr. Li Ding at WUSM’s Genome Institute. Related WUSM news release
MedPage Today
Tackling concussion head-on in the NFL
1/30/2014
During the past four years, there have been multiple rule changes intended to make football safer than any other professional sport. “Not only will the number of concussions be reduced by these efforts, but it is our hope that the severity and negative long-term effects of football-related concussions will be reduced as well,” said Dr. Matthew J. Matava, who is head team physician for the St. Louis Rams.
The Rotation / Sports On Earth
Where there’s smoke
1/30/2014
In 2011, ESPN and WUSM researchers published a survey of former NFL players’ painkiller use. The results were disturbing. More than half of the respondents had taken opioids during their pro football careers.
Related WUSM news release
ABC 12 (Flint, MI – Ivanhoe story)
Cord blood offers more sickle cell options
1/13/2014
Bone marrow transplants can be a cure for sickle cell disease but unfortunately, not every patient can find a matching donor. Dr. Shalini Shenoy is studying a new option for patients who do not have related donors. Stem cells from a baby’s umbilical cord can be infused in the arm. The cells then travel to the bone marrow, settle there, and make new, healthy cells. Other outlets:SouthCentralPA.com
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Noted STL surgeon has first novel published
2/5/2014
Neurosurgeon Dr. Eric C. Leuthardt now is a published fiction writer. His recently released first novel, “RedDevil 4,” is set in St. Louis and involves a neurosurgeon on the verge of creating the world’s first artificial intelligence. The character’s work is put on hold as he becomes entangled in a series of brutal murders committed by prominent citizens with no discernable motive for their violent actions. Related WUSM news release
Science Daily
Gender influences symptoms of genetic disorder NF1
2/7/2014
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a patient’s gender as a clear and simple guidepost to help health-care providers anticipate some of the effects of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). “This information will help us adjust our strategies for predicting the potential outcomes in patients with NF1 and recommending appropriate treatments,” said Dr. David H. Gutmann. Other outlets: News-Medical
Related WUSM news release
The Hindu (India)
A reason to sleep
1/23/2014
A recent study suggested that when mice sleep, their brain cells shrink, allowing fluid in the brain to circulate among the cells and carry away waste products that build up in the spaces between cells. Dr. Randall Bateman, commenting on the study, said, “Beta-amyloid concentrations continue to increase while a person is awake. And then after people go to sleep, that concentration of beta-amyloid decreases. This report provides a beautiful mechanism by which this may be happening.” Related WUSM news release
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Town and Country approves outpatient medical center
1/27/2014
The Town and Country Board of Aldermen voted 7-1 to rezone the land at Highway 40/Interstate 64 and Mason Rd., clearing the way for a new pediatric outpatient center in West County, which will be operated by SLCH and ambulatory care and outpatient surgery.
KTVI-TV Fox 2
Teaching kids to be good sports
2/3/2014
Pediatric psychologist Dr. April Nesin urged parents to teach their kids about sportsmanship. Parents can start by relaxing on the sidelines. “Share encouragement and not instruction” from the sidelines, she suggested.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Parents Talk Back
2/5/2014
SLCH Mom Doc Kathleen Berchelmann fielded diverse questions from parents about the flu, drug testing and kindergarten in her weekly online chat hosted by Post-Dispatch reporter Aisha Sulton.
Reuters
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society announces recipients of Quest for Cures grant program
1/23/2014
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society recently announced researchers who will receive funding through its new grant program that addresses critical areas of blood cancer research. Dr. Matthew Walter is among the grantees, and he will use his grant to investigate the impact of allogeneic transplants on clonal heterogeneity in myelodysplastic syndrome
Chronicle Live
Operation to help 5-year-old a success
1/30/2014
A 5-year-old girl from the United Kingdom traveled to St. Louis for surgery by Dr. T. S. Park who is internationally known for a spinal surgery he pioneered called selective dorsal rhizotomy. The surgery severs spinal cord rootlets that cause spasticity, resulting in stronger, more relaxed movement.
