Medicine & Health

Scientists have used a glowing protein from fireflies to observe the activity of a molecule that is an important target for new drugs to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases and several other disorders.

WrightWashington University and the St. Louis Cardinals have appointed Rick W. Wright, M.D., as the new head team physician. Wright, who has been an assistant team physician with the Cardinals since l998 and covers many of the team’s home games, replaces George A. Paletta Jr., M.D.

Scientists have discovered that a group of important immune system cells has a surprising resemblance to cinematic British superspy James Bond: the cells receive a “license” that allows them to unleash their most potent attacks on enemies.

A promising new anti-cancer drug will be tested against several forms of thyroid cancer in a newly opened clinical trial at the Siteman Cancer Center.

As men age, testosterone and growth hormone levels gradually wane. Energy, strength and physical function tend to decline as well. Geriatrician Ellen Binder is trying to determine if she can slow the process by restoring hormones in older men to more youthful levels. See details in the following St. Louis Post-Dispatch front-page article.

David Van Essen, Ph.D., the Edison Professor of Neurobiology and head of the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at the School of Medicine, has been elected president of the Society for Neuroscience, the world’s largest organization for scientists who study the brain.

A baby’s first relationship is the most important.A child’s first relationship can begin in the womb as a parent reads or talks to the unborn baby. An infant’s first relationship is the most important because it begins the foundation for all future relationships, says School of Medicine child psychiatrist John Constantino.

Living inside each human intestinal tract are more microbes than there are human cells in the rest of the body. A poor relationship between these single-celled organisms and the intestines in which they reside could be the cause of irritable bowel syndrome, say School of Medicine researchers.

Researchers at the School of Medicine are seeking volunteers to test an investigational drug for the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The syndrome is a chronic nerve disorder that often affects the arms and legs after injuries such as trauma or infection.

Hydration is crucial during summer activities.The number of heat-related illnesses is rising as fast as the thermometer. Dehydration is the key component in most cases of sun-induced sickness. Barnes-Jewish Hospital and School of Medicine physicians Mark Levine and Matthew Matava discuss the symptoms and means for prevention in the following St. Louis Post-Dispatch article.