Newsroom Stories

ZebrafishTo learn more about how glucose affects human development, Washington University researchers have developed the first vertebrate model of the role of glucose in embryonic brain development. The model is made up of zebrafish. Their transparent embryos develop similarly to humans, except that they grow outside of the mother’s body, where development can be more easily observed. The model provides the foundation for and insight into the roles of nutrition and genetics in human birth defects.

Robert Morley & Ed Richter investigated static electricity buildup from sliding down a plastic slide, which can temporarily silence the world to cochlear implantees.

On May 10 at 5:30 p.m., at Washington University — Hilltop Campus, Simon Hall, May Auditorium, the winners of the first-ever Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Competition will be named. More than $100,000 is available to winners in different categories.

Infectious disease experts at the School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital will participate in a new multicenter research network dedicated to assessing, treating and preventing hospital-acquired infections.

Preliminary studies have shown that almost 50 percent of people who experience uncontrolled asthma symptoms have a chronic airway infection that they aren’t aware of. Now researchers at the School of Medicine are testing to see if treatment with an antibiotic will ease asthma symptoms in these patients.

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)