The e-newsletter for faculty and staff at the UTMB School of Medicine News and information (appointments, searches, events, awards, etc.) pertaining to the School of Medicine are featured in SOM e-NEWS in abstract form and are linked to the web for more detailed information. If you have information you would like published in this newsletter, please contact Denise Gonzalez, in the Dean of Medicine Office via email (djgonzal@utmb.edu) or by fax (29598). Please let us know your ideas and suggestions for this communication format. You may send your comments via email to Jackie Genovese, Chief Communications Officer, School of Medicine, jmgenove@utmb.edu.
February 2008
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CAMPUS PRODUCTION OF THE YELLOW BOAT
The UTMB Women’s, Infant’s and Children’s (WIC) Family Centered Care Committees will sponsor a campus production of The Yellow Boat in Levin Hall, Tuesday, February 12, 2007 from 6:00 -8:00 pm and Wednesday, February 13th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Admission is free.
SAVE THE DATE: NEXT TOWN HALL SET FOR FEB. 20
UTMB President David L. Callender will host the first Town Hall of the year on Wednesday, Feb. 20, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Levin Hall Main Auditorium. Watch for additional details in the daily announcements, on iUTMB and on the Town Hall web site.
February 25-26, 2008
March 27-29, 2008
The next Faculty of Medicine Meeting is scheduled on Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 5:15 PM, Levin Hall South Auditorium. A reception honoring new School of Medicine faculty will be held immediately after the meeting.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE COMMENCEMENT
Saturday, May 31, 2008, 10:00 AM, Moody Gardens Convention Center.
Commencement Speaker - Bernard F. Morrey, M.D., John and Posy Krehbiel Professor of Orthopedics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Dr. Lisa D. Cain, Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, is joining forces with prominent physicians and scientists worldwide to help establish a neuroscience center in the Republic of Ghana in West Africa. “There are only seven neurosurgeons in Ghana and even fewer neurologists,” Cain said. “With a population of 20 million, it’s imperative that we train more personnel to treat the debilitating diseases and injuries affecting the brain and spinal cord.” Cain is collaborating with Dr. John Sampson, president of Doctors for United Medical Missions, and the Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation. Supporting the initiative is Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei, the ambassador of Ghana to the United States, and Dr. Benjamin Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins University. Read more in the newsroom.
Several changes in the administrative structure of the Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) have taken place. Dr. Johnny W. Peterson has agreed to serve in the capacity of acting Associate Director for Research, pending a national search for a permanent replacement later this year for Dr. Barrett who recently was appointed Director of the Sealy Center for Vaccine Development (SCVD). Dr. Peterson is well known for his outstanding leadership in developing the GNL Aerobiology Core and near GLP-quality aerobiology science at UTMB. Holder of the Samuel Baron Distinguished Professorship in Microbiology & Immunology, he has been a member of the UTMB faculty for 36 years and serving previously as Chair of the McLaughlin Fellowship Committee and Vice Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology. Dr. Peterson has co-authored over 120 publications related to the microbiology and pathogenesis of disease due to toxin-producing bacteria. He brings a wealth of experience to this position, coupled with enthusiasm for the team effort that continues to characterize the GNL project. As Associate Director, Dr. Peterson will chair the Biocontainment and Risk Assessment Committee (BRAC). (Dr. Barrett will continue to serve on the BRAC as Director of the SCVD).
Mr. Miguel Grimaldo has agreed to serve as Director of the GNL Biocontainment Engineering Core, succeeding Mr. Lee Thompson, who will remain associated with the core as a consultant. Mr. Grimaldo joined the university community in January, 2005 and over the past three years has made critical contributions to the successful operation of UTMB's biocontainment facilities. He has been a key member of the team responsible for monitoring progress on the design and construction of the Galveston National Laboratory. Mr. Grimaldo was trained as an agricultural engineer at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, and received his Masters degree in Engineering Management from the University of Louisville, in Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Grimaldo has an extensive background in biocontainment engineering as evidenced by a 13-year appointment with the USDA in Panama where he was involved with the USDA's Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Program as well as the Screwworm Eradication Program.
Syed Kaleem Kazmi, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, is the new President of the Bay Area Pediatric Society. Dr. Kazmi has been a member of the UTMB faculty since 1994 and serves as Medical Director of UTMB’s Pediatric Associates in Alvin.
Dr. Kazmi is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. He has a special interest in community health education and the uses of homeopathic medicines.
Robert Youens, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, is featured in this month's Texas Co-op Power Magazine online about his practice in Weimar and the concept of a rural residency track.
The American Psychiatric Association has recognized Dr. Karen Dineen Wagner, Marie B. Gale Centennial Professor of Psychiatry and vice chairwoman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, with its prestigious Blanche F. Ittleson Award for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for 2007. Wagner receives the award for her research and publications about mood disorders in children and adolescents which have advanced evidence-based treatment in the field. Read more
Roy Riascos, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, received the Cum Laude award from the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) for his exhibit “Supraclavicular Triangle in the Thoracic Inlet: A Pictorial Review.”
In addition, the electronic publication, "Web-based Broadcast for the Radiology Noon Conference," by Ernst RD, et al, was awarded the Certificate of Merit at the past RSNA meeting.
M. Tarek Elghetany, M.D., Professor, was chosen as one of “America’s Top Pathologists” by the Consumer Research Council of America.
Vicki Freeman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, was elected as a Fellow to the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry
Frederick Murphy, D.V.M., Professor, has been appointed to the following scientific committees:
National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Report Review Committee (RRC)
Standing Committee on Biodefense, National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council, Institute of Medicine
Program Advisory Committee, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Training Program on Bringing Together Medical Population Science and Laboratory Science
David Walker, M.D., Professor and Chair, has been appointed to the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Defense External Advisory Committee and to the National Research Council Standing Committee on Biodefense for the US Department of Defense.
UTMB’s Radek Bukowski, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is quoted in this article about a study he wrote that states that folic acid, already recommended for women of childbearing age because it lowers the risk of birth defects, also might cut the chances of delivering a premature baby by half or more. Reports of Dr. Bukowski’s study are being circulated by media outlets worldwide including Scientific American at http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=premature-births-lower-in, GMTV in England at http://www.gm.tv/news/headlines/2008-01-31t053636z_01_n30243736_rtridst_0_ouktp-uk-folic-birth.html, Yahoo! Asia News at http://asia.news.yahoo.com/080131/3/3efy8.html and Canada.com at http://www.canada.com/topics/bodyandhealth/story.html?id=e54a84b1-6624-40a6-8f5d-6b3b0ee8b0f0&k=86987
The following faculty were appointed to endowed positions:
Michael A. Ainsworth, M.D., Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, was appointed as initial holder of the Hiram P. and Gloria Arnold Professorship for the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers, effective January 1, 2008.
Thomas A. Blackwell, M.D., Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, was appointed as holder of the Edna S. and William C. Levin Professorship in Internal Medicine, effective February 1, 2008.
Thomas J. Collins, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, was appointed as initial holder of the Dr. and Mrs. Joseph T. Painter Professorship for the UTMB Academy of Master Teachers, effective January 1, 2008.
Don W. Powell, M.D., Professor, Departments of Internal Medicine and Neuroscience & Cell Biology, was appointed as holder of The Bassel and Frances Blanton Distinguished Professorship in Internal Medicine, effective February 1, 2008.
Space tourism has some experts estimating that 10,000 to 15,000 people a year will fly in orbital and suborbital space in the next decade. For aerospace medicine physicians, this will mean preparing a less physically fit passenger for the demands of space. This is why Mayo Clinic in Arizona has joined aerospace experts at UTMB and Wyle Laboratories in Houston to form a medical space tourism program. The article quotes Dr. James Vanderploeg, Visiting Associate Professor of Clinical Preventive Medicine at UTMB and chief medical officer for Virgin Galactic. Read more
In celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Institute for the Medical Humanities (IMH) and the 20th anniversary of its Medical Humanities Graduate Program, the IMH will host a conference on Graduate Education in Medical Humanities: Models and Methods, March 6-9, 2008, Galveston. In 1988, the graduate program at the IMH was authorized to offer the nation’s first M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in the medical humanities. This 20th anniversary conference will provide a rare opportunity for faculty, administrators, and students of such programs throughout the world to come together to investigate the questions that characterize this evolving field of graduate education; to discuss their work; and to share models and methods of successful programs. For further information or to register, contact Donna Vickers, davicker@utmb.edu or 409-772-9396.
“Epidemiological & Statistical Methods in Clinical Investigation,” is a series of 14 weekly sessions as a module in the Clinical Research Education Program titled, “Clinical Research: Tools and Techniques.” This module will begin Monday, February 11, 2008, 5:15 p.m., Children’s Hospital, Room 2.312. The sessions provide an overview of epidemiological and statistical methods of research involving human subjects. A brochure further describing the sessions is available upon request or at http://intranet.utmb.edu/gcrc/education/Ed_StatModule.htm. CME and GME credits are available for sessions.
To register, complete and submit the registration form located on the brochure Internet site, or contact Janie Ferrell of the Clinical Research Education Office by email jferrell@utmb.edu or phone 772-1484. The course fee of $45 covers registration, letter of completion, GME credit, and refreshments. An additional $45 covers optional CME credit for physicians. (Those who have already registered for this year’s course, “Clinical Research: Tools and Techniques” do not need to register again for this module.) The schedule of this and other components of the UTMB Clinical Research Education Program are available on the Internet at http://www.utmb.edu/gcrc/education/Ed_CREO.htm
Below is a listing of SOM faculty or programs in the news:
Resolve to be better in 2008, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 1, 2008. This article about New Year resolutions quotes Dr. Ken Fujise, director of UTMB’s Division of Cardiology, and Lynn A. Maarouf, diabetes nutrition educator at the Stark Diabetes Center.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=41e0206239db2e44
Beating up the obese, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 1, 2008. In his Medicine and Health column, Dr. Howard Brody mentions two articles published in the July 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that led him to conclude that “we really don’t know at this point what causes obesity. If obesity is even one single thing, which I seriously doubt.”
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=7743c042cb605b10
West Nile susceptibility, Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 2, 2008.
Seemingly harmless bites from mosquitoes not infected by the West Nile virus may make the disease worse in people who acquire the virus later from West Nile–infected insects, according to new research conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/299/1/29-b
Greenspoint Club presents ‘Diamonds are Forever,’ dBusiness News Houston, Jan. 2, 2008.
The Greenspoint Club in Houston honored a 1980 graduate of UTMB’s medical school for his contributions to Boys and Girls Country, a Christian organization providing aid to children from families in crisis. Dr. Phillip L. Leggett has raised more than $1.5 million for Boys and Girls Country.
http://houston.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?type_news=latest&newsid=145496
Hotel maids challenge the placebo effect, NPR, Jan. 3, 2008. Howard Brody, director of the Institute for the Medical Humanities at UTMB, is quoted in this report. He says that a number of relatively new studies challenge the old assumption that the placebo effect alters only subjective perception. He is the author of “The Placebo Response.”
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17792517
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=17765003&m=17764939
Memorial Hermann Southeast adds three surgeons in colorectal care, Pasadena Citizen, Jan. 3, 2008. Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital has expanded its colon and rectal surgery department with the addition of three physicians, including Dr. Valerie Bauer, an assistant professor at UTMB.
http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19162280&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=555664&rfi=6
Provista Life Sciences appoints Dr. Louis Kirby as chief medical officer, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, Jan. 3, 2008. Provista Life Sciences LLC, a medical diagnostic development and commercialization company in Phoenix, Ariz., has appointed Dr. Louis Kirby as its chief medical officer. Kirby obtained his medical degree and specialty training at UTMB.
http://www.genengnews.com/news/bnitem.aspx?name=28622973
New leadership team elected for 2008, Pasadena Citizen, Jan. 3, 2008. The Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership recently elected Dr. Bernard A. Milstein as its chairman. Milstein is a clinical professor of ophthalmology at UTMB and president of The Eye Clinic of Texas in League City.
http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19165185&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=555667&rfi=6
Does milk really do a body good? MSNBC, Jan. 4, 2008. This article surveys the pros and cons of drinking cow’s milk. It mentions that scientists at UTMB found that drinking whole milk after lifting weights boosted muscle protein synthesis — an indicator of muscle growth — 2.8 times more than drinking skim did. However, the articles does not provide a citation for this research. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22349307/
HPV flap sparked vaccine interest, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 6, 2008. The Legislature last year overrode a mandate from the governor that Texas schoolgirls be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus. But that’s not stopping anyone from getting the vaccine, local pediatricians say. Texas women and girls are flocking to clinics to get vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus, usually called HPV. Since July, UTMB pediatric clinics have been administering about 60 doses a month, said Dr. Chris Turley, vice chairwoman for clinical services in the Department of Pediatrics. (The Associated Press picked up this story and versions of it have appeared widely in state media.)
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=04486a84ac868e8aee4deb0fb5a697bc
Local doctor creates clothing with tourniquets for troops, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Jan. 6, 2008. An encounter with a wounded soldier in the back roads of northeastern Afghanistan in early 2006 prompted local physician Keith Rose to develop a tourniquet system that is expected to save lives. Rose earned his medical degree from UTMB.
http://www.caller.com/news/2008/jan/06/tourniquet/
CT scans implicated in 2 percent of cancers, American Medical News, Jan. 7, 2008. A recent study estimates that between 1.5 percent and 2 percent of all cancers can be attributed to radiation from the 62 million computed tomography scans Americans get each year. “Many people just have no clue what different exposures to radiation means," said Dr. Brody, director of UTMB’s Institute for the Medical Humanities.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/07/prsa0107.htm
Bioresearch Online’s top 10 of 2007, Bioresearch Online, Jan. 7, 2008. An article titled “Protein Found that Slows Hepatitis C Growth in Liver Cells” appearing in Bioresearch Online last April was among the Web site’s top 10 news stories of 2007. Dr. Stanley M. Lemon, director of the NIH-funded Hepatitis C Research Center at UTMB and of UTMB’s Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, was senior author of the paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
http://www.bioresearchonline.com/content/news/article.asp?docid=%7B6CA8B647-4CCF-4557-AD13-FA9EAACF8CCF%7D&VNETCOOKIE=NO
Not so painful truth about non-chronic addiction, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 8, 2008.
University of Wisconsin researchers find that people who use opiates to control chronic pain found that less than 4 percent of them became addicted. In his Health and Medicine column, UTMB’s Howard Brody applauds the conclusion that “the risk of addiction is not high enough to counter the value of opiate medications prescribed by primary care physicians.”
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=53c37b9451128e8b
Medical society names Shah as president, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 9, 2008. The Galveston County Medical Society, the professional association for Galveston County physicians, has elected new officers for 2008. Dr. Thomas Kimbrough of UTMB was elected president-elect, to serve next year. Dr. Barbara Thompson of UTMB was elected secretary-treasurer. Dr. Kiran Shah of Texas City was elected president. http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=5b4c05d87a26219e
Don’t worry, be happy: Help your child learn to cope with stress, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 9, 2008. In this Keeping Kids Healthy, Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly give advice on how to teach children about stress and how to help children deal with stress caused by things such as a bad day at school.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=27df7d2f60e3ee33
Several clinics relocated. Houston Chronicle Bay Area, Jan. 10, 2008. Several UTMB specialty clinics have moved. The clinics moved to the Primary Care Pavilion. Also, Christmas tree recycling continues through Monday, oral surgeon Roger B. Throndson was named a Texas Super Dentist by Texas Monthly and “Caregiving for the Caregiver – it Takes a Village” is the topic of a free presentation by the Senior Services Office. (No link available.)
A new specialty for the community, McKinney Courier-Gazette, Jan. 11, 2008. Dr. Claudia McDonald joined the Medical Center of McKinney as the one of the first two neurosurgeons in McKinney. McDonald is a graduate of the UTMB medical school. http://www.mckinneymessenger.com/articles/2008/01/11/mckinney_courier-gazette/news/gnews12.txt
Ties that bind, AARP Bulletin, January 2008. For years, pharmaceutical companies have courted America's doctors with an ever-growing intensity, showering them with billions of dollars' worth of gifts, consulting fees and trips to persuade them to prescribe their drugs. Now, patient advocates and lawmakers are out to break up those relationships. The article quotes Dr. Howard Brody, director of UTMB’s Institute for the Medical Humanities.
http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourhealth/drug_rep_ties_that_bind.html
Vital Signs: Feed us more than sound bites in campaigns, Houston Chronicle, Jan. 12, 2008. Laura Hermer, an attorney and an assistant professor of health policy and bioethics at UTMB, writes, “The sound bites mask a much more interesting debate. It asks, ‘Who should be responsible for ensuring that we each get the health care that we need?’ If the ethical responsibility is shared, this debate asks, why should it be divided in one way rather than in another?”
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5448714.html
Local MDs named ‘superdoctors’ by Texas peers, San Angelo Standard-Times, Jan. 12, 2008. Dr. Ernest Charlesworth was among three doctors in San Angelo to be named to Texas Monthly’s list of Super Doctors. Charlesworth, who practices in San Angelo, is a clinical associate professor at UTMB.
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2008/jan/12/local-mds-named-superdoctors-by-texas-peers/
Doctor’s first novel delves into bio-attacks at Galveston laboratory, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 13, 2008. Author Paul Boor, a pathologist at UTMB, will sign copies of his novel “The Blood Notes of Peter Mallow,” at Midsummer Books from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, during ArtWalk Galveston. The story unfolds in UTMB’s Biosafety Level 4 lab.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=e769537ccfb15e77d88aa0daf6c0a3b2
Med schools adjusting to millennial students, American Medical News, Jan. 14, 2008 (cover date). The millennial generation is a big topic among those who teach medical school as they seek to shape an educational experience that meshes with this group's particular characteristics and learning styles. The article quotes Dr. Lauree Thomas, UTMB associate dean for student affairs and admissions. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/14/prsd0114.htm
Aerospace medicine gearing up for tourists in space, American Medical News, Jan. 14, 2008 (cover date). Space tourism has some experts estimating that 10,000 to 15,000 people a year will fly in orbital and suborbital space in the next decade. For aerospace medicine physicians, this will mean preparing a less physically fit passenger for the demands of space. This is why Mayo Clinic in Arizona has joined aerospace experts at UTMB and Wyle Laboratories in Houston to form a medical space tourism program. The article quotes Dr. James Vanderploeg, visiting associate professor of clinical preventive medicine at UTMB and chief medical officer for Virgin Galactic. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/14/prse0114.htm
Doling out the placebo effect, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 14, 2008. As a recent study published in the Archives of General Internal Medicine found, physicians on the front lines of patient care are reaching for the power of Obecalp – a backward spelling of the word “placebo” – with surprising frequency, and for different reasons, than patients might suspect. The article quotes UTMB’s Dr. Howard Brody.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-placebo14jan14,1,4887792.story?coll=la-headlines-health
MLK birthday celebration and awards ceremony, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 14, 2008. The UTMB Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity and the Student National Medical Association will host a birthday celebration and awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Old Central Cultural Center, 2627 Ave. M, in Galveston. (No link available.)
Medical home more crucial than we thought, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 15, 2008. In his column, Dr. Howard Brody reinforces the importance of primary care and expands on a new survey that cites the new idea emerging from primary-care leaders – “a medical home.” http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=faa35d6dee04370a
County fares well in Houston Marathon, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 15, 2008.
Sunday’s Chevron Houston Marathon produced good times in every sense of the word. Autumn Ray, a 27-year-old medical student at UTMB, clocked the county’s fastest performance, finishing in two hours, 59 minutes and 38 seconds.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f4250c58ed976ec6
New research advancements in the treatment of premature ovarian failure, News-Medical.net, Jan. 15, 2008. A team of researchers from UTMB and the University of Saskatchewan has recently discovered that the gene mutation believed to be a possible cause of premature ovarian failure may be corrected when an adenovirus compensating for the mutated gene is introduced. Findings were reported in the recent issue of Molecular Human Reproduction. Salama A. Salama, Nilufar Khatoon, Rebecca Chilvers and Manubai Nagamani from the UTMB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology are co-authors of the study.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=34346
Cookies for a cure, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 16, 2008. The UTMB Comprehensive Cancer Center and Morrison’s Food Services, the on-campus food provider at UTMB, are sponsoring “Cookies for a Cure” campaign to raise awareness of the center’s research and treatment facilities. “While we hope this event is a successful fundraiser for the cancer center, we are more keenly interested in the opportunity it presents to create awareness for cancer detection and prevention, and also to spotlight cancer facilities right here at UTMB,” Sheila Lidstone, development specialist for the center, said.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=65041c29ac1c7187
Too much information isn’t necessarily a good thing, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 16, 2008. In their Keeping Kids Healthy column, UTMB Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly note that many parents come into their offices armed with information and diagnoses they’ve pieced together from the Internet. “And that’s mostly a good thing (notice, we say ‘mostly.’)”
(Web link unavailable.)
Markets put no value on natural resources, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 16, 2008. In a guest column, Galveston resident Mike Hurlbert mentions studies of prions at UTMB. He writes, “The UTMB researchers are in the very early stages of studying prions and do not yet know if they pose a health threat in the drinking water supply.” (Web link unavailable.)
Response: Re: Intravenous bisphosphonate therapy and inflammatory conditions or surgery of the jaw: A population-based analysis, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Jan. 16, 2008.Gregg S. Wilkinson, Yong-Fang Kuo, Jean L. Freeman and James S. Goodwin contributed this article. All are researchers at UTMB’s Sealy Center on Aging. http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/100/2/155-a
Do cholesterol drugs do any good? Business Week, Jan. 17, 2008. UTMB’s Dr. Howard Brody is quoted in this article questioning the efficacy of statins to control cholesterol in people who are not high-risk heart patients. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068052092994.htm
The Truth About Statins, CBS Evening News, Jan. 17, 2008. This report, which questions the use of statins in some cases, features Dr. Howard Brody and UTMB patient David Mullican. To find the video go to http://www.cbsnews.com/?source=homepage_refresh and then click on “more videos” and scroll down to “The Truth About Statins.”
Customised asthma treatment, Scientist Live, Jan. 18, 2008. Dr. Allan Brasier, director of UTMB’s Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, is quoted in this article about how researchers are taking the first steps toward bringing the methods of personalized medicine to asthma.
http://www.scientistlive.com/19780/customised-asthma-treatment.thtml This article is also on several other international Web sites, including The Hindu in India http://www.thehindu.com/holnus/008200801181740.htm and other sites such as Physorg.com http://www.physorg.com/news119810895.html
Garcia’s greatest passion: education. Corpus Christi Caller-Times, Jan. 18, 2008. This column focuses on the late Dr. Hector P. Garcia’s passion for education. UTMB annually presents an award in his name to a medical student. http://www.caller.com/news/2008/jan/18/garcias-greatest-passion-education/
Influenza has arrived, The Courier of Montgomery County, Jan. 18, 2008. Emily Llinas of UTMB is quoted in this article about influenza hitting Montgomery County. While the clinic is not reporting any unusual activity for the season, Llinas does suggest people adhere to general hygiene practices and cough into their elbows instead of their hands to avoid spreading germs. http://www.hcnonline.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19205647&BRD=1574&PAG=461&dept_id=532215&rfi=6
Doling Out the Placebo Effect, The Los Angeles Times, Jan. 19, 2008. This article about how a placebo has been shown to have occasionally had remarkable effects on a broad range of maladies quotes Dr. Howard Brody of UTMB. http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/19/doling-out-the-placebo-effect/
Business digest: Real estate agency marks anniversary, Longview News Journal, Jan. 20, 2008.
This business news briefs package mentions that Dr. Bobby Brock has joined Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview as a family practice physician. Brock is a UTMB graduate.
http://www.news-journal.com/money/content/business/stories/2008/01/20/01202008_business_digest.html
Texas' Prometa program for treating meth addicts draws skeptics, Dallas Morning News, Jan. 20, 2008. This article is about a $2 million pilot program approved by the Texas Legislature “for an obscure medical treatment touted as a cure for the worst methamphetamine addictions. But months later, the pilot program for the drug therapy, called Prometa, has yet to get off the ground, halted by skepticism and safety concerns.” The article quotes Kathryn Cunningham, director of UTMB’s Center for Addiction Research, who said that there is little proof that Prometa is one of the medical treatments that can alter brain chemistry to curb drug cravings. “There's been a lot of marketing hype before the evidence exists. This is not something I'd personally want to spend my taxpayer money on," said Dr. Cunningham. "I know a lot of scientists in this area, and we're all singing the same tune," she said. "This is misguided." This article is being redistributed by numerous other news outlets in Texas.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/012108dntexprometa.2c2f801.html
Great new chapter for isle’s literati, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 21, 2008. This society column mentions a new book by Dr. Paul Boor of UTMB that is described as a biomedical thriller. Also mentioned is the 12th annual San Luis Salute, which benefits UTMB’s Department of Ophthalmology. Drs. Bernard Godley and Erik van Kuijk will be honored at the celebration. http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=36a9497df9dd0093
US Agro debate continues, The Scientist, Jan. 21, 2008. This blog is about how two “government agencies continue to bicker over how to protect US borders from agroterrorism and invasive species.” The article quotes Peter Mason, a UTMB researcher, who thinks that the transferring responsibility to the Department of Homeland Security has “just been disastrous. …Quite frankly, I think DHS is a new agency and it’s not clear to me they have a clear understanding of animal agriculture." http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/54186/
Urinary cortisol and catecholamine excretion following burn injury in children, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Jan. 22, 2008. The purpose of this study was to determine in a large clinical prospective trial the acute and long-term pattern of urine cortisol and catecholamine expression in severely burned children. Authors are William B. Norbury, David N. Herndon, Ludwik K. Branski, David L. Chinkes and Marc G. Jeschke. http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/jc.2006-2158v1
Illegal aliens, health care, unseen benefits, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 22, 2008.Dr. Howard Brody notes that recent studies demonstrate that the vast majority of undocumented immigrants are employed and pay taxes and that they access social services programs at a lower rate than average community members do.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=be97809a4593ed39
Recognizing the signs of child abuse, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 23, 2008. In their Keeping Kids Healthy column, Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly offer advice on how to recognize symptoms of child abuse, such as children who wear long-sleeved shirts in the summer to hide bruises.
(Link is unavailable.)
Fireside chat covers psychiatrists, patients, Oregonian, Jan. 23, 2008. Dr. Howard Brody, director of the Institute for the Medical Humanities at UTMB, will take part in a fireside chat with members of the Multnomah Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness to discuss his work on the relationship between the psychiatric profession and those living with mental illness. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/120104431569240.xml&coll=7
Founding partner of Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery selected to join national council of leaders in breast aesthetics, Marketwire, Jan. 23, 2008. Dr. Christopher Patronella, a graduate of UTMB, has been named to the NOVO National Council of Leaders in Breast Aesthetics. Patronella is a founder of the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery in Houston. http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=813480&sourceType=3
Lecture series starts with talk on aging, Houston Chronicle Bay Area, Jan. 24, 2008.
The 2008 Lefeber Winter Series on Aging kicks off Tuesday with Dr. Marco Pahor, chairman of the Department of Aging and Geriatric Research at the University of Florida College of Medicine, discussing “Physical Activity to Prevent Disability in Older Adults.” UTMB’s Friendswood Pediatrics Associates has expanded its practice to include adults; the American Psychiatric Association is honoring Dr. Karen Wagner with its Blanche F. Ittleson Award for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and the Women’s Infants and Children’s and the Family Centered committees will present performances of “The Yellow Boat” in Levin Hall. (Link is unavailable.)
Doctors’ divided loyalties do not serve their patients well, Business Day, Jan. 24, 2008. Dr. Howard Brody, director of UTMB’s Institute for the Medical Humanities, challenges physicians and their patients to question the effect of close relationships between pharmaceutical companies and the medical community and to “stop constructing the web of rationalizations and denials that we have relied on for years to persuade ourselves that there is nothing wrong with any of this.”
http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/healthnews.aspx?ID=BD4A689181
Reports from University of Texas, Division of Geriatric Medicine add new data to research in metabolism, MacroWorld, Jan. 24, 2008. In this recent report, researchers at UTMB conducted a study “to examine recent discoveries related to the amino acid metabolism and regulatory effects in aging, focusing on the development and treatment of age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia).” Kyle Timmerman, a post-doctoral fellow in the Sealy Center on Aging, is the principal author. The study was published in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=290067591
Geriatrician care guards against risk of inappropriate meds, HealthDay, Jan. 25, 2008. Dr. James S. Goodwin, director of the Sealy Center on Aging and a geriatrics professor at UTMB is quoted in this article about the role geriatricians play in ensuring that elderly patients receive only appropriate medications. Based on a study of 850,000 veterans over 65, researchers found that a little more than 26 percent of the patients had been improperly prescribed medication, either by dosage or type.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080126/hl_hsn/geriatriciancareguardsagainstriskofinappropriatemeds
(This story has appeared in a variety of media)
Clinics a fast fix when you’re sick, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 27, 2008. Dr. Brian Zachariah, UTMB emergency services director, is quoted in this article about the growing popularity of in-store health care clinics.
http://news.galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=f87a2aad21a77ddf
Sources: Janek to resign from Senate, Austin American-Statesman, Jan. 29, 2008. State Sen. Kyle Janek, a Houston Republican and a clinical assistant professor at UTMB when not conducting legislative business will announce today that he will resign from the upper chamber of the Legislature, sources said Monday. Janek, an anesthesiologist who has served in the Senate since 2002, could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. There was no immediate word Monday on what Janek plans to do next.
This article was picked up and distributed by The Associated Press and was published in numerous news outlets in Texas.
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/01/29/0129janek.html
Do genetically modified foods differ from a cloned meal? Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 29, 2008. In his weekly column, Dr. Howard Brody discusses the confusion between foods from cloned animals and foods that have been genetically modified. (no link available at the time of this posting)
It’s important to establish good sleeping habits early in life, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 30, 2008. In their Keeping Kids Healthy column, UTMB Drs. Sally Robinson and Keith Bly offer tips that parents can use to help their children develop good sleeping habits. (No link available)
Immigrants Are Singled Out As Scapegoats, Galveston County Daily News, Jan. 30, 2008. In this letter to the editor, Dr. Howard Brody responds to a reader who questioned statistics that Brody cited in a column last week. Brody goes on to say that Americans, especially during times of economic stress, blame immigrants. http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=380e7890a1563c2cc8545f57966c90b3
Middle age a low point for most, Yahoo News, Jan. 30, 2008. People around the globe hit the height of their misery and depression in middle age, a new international study suggests. The finding by British and American researchers was based on an analysis of well-being among approximately 2 million people in 80 nations. The article quotes Dr. James S. Goodwin, director of the Sealy Center on Aging at UTMB. (Similar articles have appeared widely.)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080130/hl_hsn/middleagealowpointformost
NASA's new vertical treadmill imitates running in space, Cleveland Leader, Jan. 30, 2008.
Researchers have devised a new vertical treadmill that will help them study exercise regimes of astronauts here on earth, in order to improve equipment and fitness programs used in space to counter the effects of prolonged weightlessness. The device is located at UTMB’s Flight Analog Research Unit. (Similar articles have appeared widely.)
http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/4451
Telaprevir will have to be monitored for the potential emergence of drug resistance, physicians say, Financial Times, Jan. 31, 2008. Vertex’s lead drug telaprevir, for the treatment of hepatitis C, will have to be monitored for the emergence of drug resistance, physicians say. The article quotes Dr. Ned Snyder, professor of internal medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at UTMB.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/56e293a8-d009-11dc-9309-0000779fd2ac,dwp_uuid=e8477cc4-c820-11db-b0dc-000b5df10621.html
Family Healthcare Clinic, Guidry News, Jan. 31, 2008. A free prostate cancer screening will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at the UTMB Family Healthcare Clinic, 3828 Ursuline St., in Galveston. No appointment is necessary. http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000006834
New life sciences research from University of Texas described, Calibre Macroworld, Jan. 31, 2008. In a study titled “Carotenoid derived aldehydes-induced oxidative stress causes apoptotic cell death in human retinal pigment epithelial cells,” UTMB researchers conclude. “This would suggest that high carotenoid supplementation for treatment of age-related macular degeneration should be used cautiously.” UTMB’s Nileshkumar M. Kalariya is principal investigator. The study appeared in the journal Experimental Eye Research. http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=291183951
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