Author: Chris Amelung

Time is the most important factor when dealing with stroke, the third leading cause of death in the U.S. But before a person can get a loved one crucial medical treatment in time, he or she must know what signs to heed. WUSM physicians and stroke experts Mark Goldberg and Maurizio Corbetta discuss stroke and its symptoms in the following St. Louis Post-Dispatch article.

Drugs used to treat the tumors common in people with a disorder called neurofibromatosis 1 rarely work, and scientists now know why. The chemotherapy drugs target a group of related proteins thought to be responsible for these tumors. But researchers at the School of Medicine found that the disease affects only the one member of the protein family that does not respond well to these particular treatments.

Rendering of the new CORTEX buildingEfforts to develop a significant biotechnology industry in St. Louis got a major boost with the groundbreaking for a new laboratory and office building that will provide space for growing companies. The new building at 4300 Forest Park Avenue in midtown St. Louis is being developed by CORTEX, the Center of Research, Technology & Entrepreneurial Exchange.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a common way to detect prostate cancer in its earliest stages. The exact number of a dangerously high PSA count is constantly under debate and varies among men in different age groups. Despite its imperfections, WUSM urologic surgeon Arnold Bullock still recommends the test be taken annually by men over 50.

Miniscule, carefully engineered particles can detect the very beginning stages of clogged arteries in animals, thanks in large part to research at the School of Medicine. With a new five-year, $7.3 million grant, WUSM researchers will begin to translate this breakthrough into clinical advances.

P. Roy Vagelos, M.D., will present a lecture titled “Evolution from Basic to Translational Research (Washington University to Merck)” at noon Monday, November 29, in Cori Auditorium at Washington University School of Medicine. Vagelos was chairman of the Department of Biological Chemistry (currently the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics) at the School of Medicine […]

Getting an annual mammogram is recommended for healthy women beginning at age 40, and it could be even more important for women between 40 and 50. In the following Post-Dispatch article, Barbara Monsees, professor of radiology and head of the breast imaging section at Siteman Cancer Center, notes that breast cancer can be more aggressive among patients in that age group.

Defining the line between fun and frightenedIn American culture, Halloween is an intriguing mix of ghastly imagery and holiday fun, and at the forefront of all the excitement are children. But how much is too much when it comes to Halloween fun? In the following St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, Dennis O’Brien, research associate in psychiatry, provides insight into the psyche of children on Halloween.

Eight faculty members were honored Oct. 21 by the Academic Women’s Network at Washington University School of Medicine. A reception was held at the Randall Gallery to honor women who hold endowed professorships at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WUSM. Below are the honorees. Nada A. Abumrad, Ph.D.Dr. Robert C. Atkins Professor of Medicine and Obesity Research […]

National experts addressed the most pressing political issues in health care at the Oct. 7 “Health Care Challenges Facing the Nation” conference at the Washington University Medical Center. Prominent among the bevy of hot topics were discussions about limiting access to health care to help alleviate rapidly escalating health care costs. Read more in the following St. Louis Post-Dispatch article by Rachel Melcer.