Newsroom Stories

A blood vessel that has become narrowed by build-up from cholesterol and other substancesA pill containing plant substances called sterols can help lower cholesterol, according to researchers at the School of Medicine. The researchers studied patients who already were eating a heart-healthy diet and taking statin drugs to control cholesterol. The addition of plant sterols helped further lower total cholesterol and contributed to a nearly 10 percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called “bad” cholesterol.

In this PET image, the arrow shows inflammation of the lungs.A noninvasive approach for assessing lung inflammation should accelerate efforts to develop drugs for inflammatory lung conditions like cystic fibrosis and pneumonia, scientists at the School of Medicine report. Researchers have used positron emission tomography (PET) scans to monitor artificially induced inflammation in the lungs of healthy volunteers. The new imaging process may help doctors monitor the conditions of patients with inflammatory lung diseases and should make it easier for investigators to test potential anti-inflammatory drugs.

Tiles painted by cancer patients and their familiesPatients undergoing treatment at the Siteman Cancer Center have a new option to pass the time. They can get creative and paint ceramic tiles for a display in the treatment area. Arts as Healing, a program facilitated by the School of Medicine’s Medical Photography, Illustration and Computer Graphics (MedPIC) department, is currently working on “Your Square Matters,” which allows patients and their families to paint a 4-inch square ceramic tile.

Biology and genetics Professor Alan Templeton has shown that the African populations interbred with the Eurasian populations — thus making love, not war.

“AlcoholEdu is one example of a WUSTL community effort aimed at decreasing alcohol misuse on our campus,” said Alan Glass, director of Student Health Services.

Boris Nemtsov will address liberal politics and market reforms in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States during a talk in Graham Chapel.

A University employee for 26 years, she died of cancer Dec. 7; her husband is Edward Greenberg, professor emeritus of economics.

Jere Confrey presented “Evaluation Framework and Comparative Analysis” at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

A Temple of Texts features 25 essays that speak to the nature and value of writing and to the books that result from a deep commitment to the word.

Chancellor Wrighton announced that funds from the alum’s estate will be used to support a future SEAS building, also to be named after Preston Green.