Reconstructive surgeon aims for rejection-free limb transplantation
Image courtesy of Jewish Hospital; Kleinert, Kutz and Associates Hand Care Center; and University of LouisvilleLimb transplantation involves several kinds of tissue.Years ago, the idea of attaching a donor limb onto a patient’s body would have been the stuff of science fiction. But to date about two-dozen people around the world have received hand transplants. Thomas Tung, M.D., conducts research within this relatively unorthodox realm of surgery, investigating the use of therapy that could potentially allow the body to accept donor tissue without the use of immunosuppressive medication.
Drug can quickly mobilize an army of cells to repair injury
Red areas of the circled leg in the right image show increased blood flow due to angiogenic cells.To speed healing at sites of injury – such as heart muscle after a heart attack or brain tissue after a stroke – doctors would like to be able to hasten the formation of new blood vessels. One promising approach is to “mobilize” patients’ blood vessel-forming cells, called angiogenic cells, so these cells can reach the injured area. Recently, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis demonstrated that a drug called AMD3100 can mobilize angiogenic cells from bone marrow of human patients in a matter of hours.
Knowing campus resources key to staying healthy at college
College students should become familiar with the physical and mental health services offered on their campuses.The millions of college freshmen starting school this fall have a lot on their minds — making the grade, meeting new friends and being on their own. Another new challenge they’ll face is staying healthy. While students face a variety of health issues — including infections, stress and sexually transmitted infections — the key to wellness is knowing the resources available on their campuses, says a college health expert at Washington University in St. Louis. More…
Options backdating is part of a tradition of boosting executive pay by bending the rules.
Managers can find way to increase their compensation.Now that the U.S. Senate Finance Committee has returned from its summer holiday, members have put the recent spate of backdating stock options at the top of the agenda. Over the summer, several companies have been caught up in the practice, which skims the top off a firm’s profits. According to professors at the Olin School of Business, the backdating of options is just one of the ways to time executive compensation in a way that enable executives to maximize their own pay. More…
Unusual three-drug combo inhibits growth of aggressive tumors
An experimental anti-cancer regimen combined a diuretic, a Parkinson’s disease medication and a drug ordinarily used to reverse the effect of sedatives. In research conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the unusual mixture inhibited the growth of aggressive prostate tumors in laboratory mice.
Schools need to focus on bullying ‘hotspots,’ not just the bullies
In the battle against bullying, school officials and parents usually focus on the behavior of the bully, but to get to the root of the problem, they also must look at the physical structure of the school, says Ronald O. Pitner, Ph.D., school violence expert and assistant professor of social work at Washington University in St. Louis. More…
Judgment at Nuremberg 60 Years Later
The Nuremberg trials still hold relevance today.The Nuremberg trials and the atrocities they revealed shocked the world 60 years ago and continue to resonate with increasing relevance. Yet, the Nuremberg principles have been implemented neither perfectly nor completely, according to a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Scholars from Washington University join other distinguished experts on international criminal justice, and the trials’ three surviving U.S. prosecutors, to examine the legacy of Nuremberg and its impact on international law, the judicial system, and world peace. More…
Sophomore featured in book on college essays
College-bound high school students across the country will be considering the advice of WUSTL sophomore Laura Cobb when they write their university admission essays this fall.
Bill Nye to speak at Assembly Series
Bill NyeMany of today’s college students grew up watching Bill Nye “The Science Guy” on television. Some may even be science-related majors because of the author and television star. Nye has made it his mission to engage people in the fascinating realm of science. His new series, “The Eyes of Nye,” explores topics ranging from astrobiology to sports.
Washington People
Although breast cancer is more common among white women, African-American women are far more likely to die of the disease. What accounts for this fundamental racial imbalance? Dione Farria, M.D., knows all too well.
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