Medicine & Health

Recent revelations that NBC News’ chief medical correspondent violated an Ebola quarantine after returning from Africa, and that a Dallas health care worker infected with the virus boarded a commercial jet have focused the nation’s attention on Ebola and what can be done to protect citizens. While measures like quarantine do restrict the freedom of exposed individuals, they do so to protect the public’s health, says a Washington University in St. Louis expert on biomedical ethics.

More than 3 million pregnant women give birth in the United States every year. But physicians still know little about the best ways to manage the crucial second stage of labor, the stage that is the hardest physically on mothers and their babies. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received an $8.7 million grant to study how best to manage the second stage.

In an effort to extend opportunities to members of the medical school community who wish to share thoughts and viewpoints on becoming a more diverse and inclusive community, the School of Medicine is hosting a series of facilitated discussions.

Injuries to six brain areas are much more devastating to patients’ abilities to think and adapt to everyday challenges than damage to other parts of the brain, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine have learned.

In rare cases, patients with allergies to metals such as nickel develop persistent skin rashes after metal devices are implanted near the skin. New research suggests these patients may be at increased risk of an unusual and aggressive form of skin cancer  from the inflammatory cells and molecules that gather at the site.

Pharmaceutical companies have largely abandoned the business of discovering and developing antibiotics and our stock of these “miracle drugs” is beginning to shrink. Michael Kinch and his colleagues at Washington University in St. Louis are working to create new models for drug discovery that could replace the failed private enterprise model.

For nearly two years, clinicians, staff, patients and families have worked hand in hand with the Washington University Medical Center Campus Renewal design team to transform the future of health care on the Medical Campus.

Doctors at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are seeking African-Americans with asthma to participate in a new study evaluating treatment for this common breathing disorder.

Washington University researchers Melissa Krauss and Richard Grucza, PhD, led a team that analyzed data from all 50 states and found that higher cigarette taxes and policies prohibiting smoking in public places are associated with a decrease in alcohol consumption.

Fourth-year medical student Uzoh Ikpeama reflects on his time at Washington University School of Medicine as he prepares for the next step of his journey.