Newsroom Stories

If you’ve regularly been coughing, wheezing or short of breath, you may want to get tested for asthma at the Saint Louis Science Center on Saturday, May 20. As part of a nationwide program, Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital physicians will be at the Science Center to test lung function and answer questions about asthma. The screenings are free.

David Kilper/WUSTL PhotoElvin-Lewis inspects a kava plant in the Goldfarb Greenhouse.Ginsengs, echinaceas, and ephedras, oh my! These herbs sound innocuous enough, however, according to Memory Elvin-Lewis, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and ethnobotany in biomedicine in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, Americans are unaware of the dangers inherent in these herbal supplements.

Treating young children at high risk for asthma for two years with an inhaled steroid continually decreased asthma-like symptoms but did not prevent the disease after the medication was stopped, a study involving researchers at the School of Medicine shows.

The winners of the inaugural Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition (SEIC) will be announced at a special awards ceremony held on Washington University’s campus. The competition is designed to foster growth for social entrepreneurs who craft innovative processes, approaches, and solutions to help resolve social issues. Over $100,000 is available to winners under a variety of categories.

Listed below are this month’s featured news stories. • Diabetes and depression (week of May 3) • Lessen frailty by losing weight (week of May 10) • Smokers get more jolts (week of May 17) • Sunscreen is more than just SPF (week of May 24) • Tumor location doesn’t really matter (week of May 31)

WUSM professor Patrick Lustman meets with a patient.A team of researchers at the School of Medicine has found that an antidepressant medication may reduce the risk of recurrent depression and increase the length of time between depressive episodes in patients with diabetes. Controlling depression in diabetes is important in helping patients manage their blood sugar. As depression improves, glucose levels also tend to improve.

David Kilper/WUSTL PhotoIn the fast-paced world of today’s college student, communication is key. Cell phones, iPods and laptop computers are now the norm, not the exception. Many students have even taken to creating their own Web pages on social networking sites like Facebook.com and Myspace.com. While being in touch and keeping friends and family informed are certainly important, students need to be careful of what they post on the Internet. It could have a very negative impact on finding a job after graduation, says a career expert at Washington University in St. Louis. More…

Photo by Kevin LowderEach spring, the dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences recognizes outstanding teaching assistants with a $1,550 cash prize.

A government agency contracted with WUSTL in 1953 to cooperate with two universities in Seoul to develop programs in business administration.

Photo by Joe AngelesEliot Society President Robert L. Virgil, Ph.D., presents the *Search* Award to Murray L. Weidenbaum, Ph.D., April 26.He’s one of the country’s most acclaimed economists and a distinguished WUSTL professor for more than 40 years; the Search is the Eliot Society’s highest honor.