Researchers discover why eczema often leads to asthma
Top: normal lungs. Bottom: asthmatic lungs.Many young children who get a severe skin rash develop asthma months or years later. Doctors call the progression from eczema, or atopic dermatitis, to breathing problems the atopic march. Now scientists at the School of Medicine have uncovered what might be the key to atopic march. They’ve shown that a substance secreted by damaged skin circulates through the body and triggers asthmatic symptoms in allergen-exposed laboratory mice.
New procedure alleviates symptoms in people with severe asthma
A new drug-free treatment for asthma has been shown to be effective in an international study of patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. The results showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life and reductions in asthma attacks and emergency room visits for patients who underwent the treatment.
Washington University Physicians chosen as team doctors for Saint Louis Athletica
Washington University Orthopedics has been chosen to provide medical care for players on the new, WPS, Women’s Professional Soccer team, Saint Louis Athletica. The orthopedics group also cares for the St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Rams and other sports teams. Robert Brophy, a former soccer player and a sports medicine specialist, will serve as head team physician.
Brain’s organization switches as children become adults
Any child confronting an outraged parent demanding to know “What were you thinking?” now has a new response: “Scientists have discovered that my brain is organized differently than yours.” But all is not well for errant kids. The same new study also provides parents with a rejoinder: While the overarching organization scheme differs, one of the most important core principals of adult brain organization is present in the brains of children as young as 7.
Boyer named Loeb Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery
BoyerMartin Boyer has been named the Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Professor in Orthopaedic Surgery at the School of Medicine. Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and Larry J. Shapiro, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, announced the appointment.
Protein “tuning” system lets scientists uncloak dangerous parasite
Researchers at the School of Medicine have found a way to dress and undress Leishmania, a parasite that causes death and disfigurement in developing countries. Scientists showed that they could control the parasite’s ability to put on its carbohydrate coat, causing it to put on the whole coat, a lighter version or to forego the coat entirely.
Genetically engineered mice don’t get obese, but do develop gallstones
Mice lacking the L-Fabp gene (left) don’t become obese on a high-fat diet like normal mice.Obesity and gallstones often go hand in hand. But not in mice developed at the School of Medicine. Even when these mice eat high-fat diets, they don’t get fat, but they do develop gallstones. Researchers say the findings offer clues about genetic factors related to gallstones, and they believe better understanding of those factors may one day allow physicians to monitor people at risk and even, perhaps, to intervene before gallstones become a serious problem.
Hallahan to head radiation oncology department
HallahanDennis Hallahan has been chosen to head the Department of Radiation Oncology at the School of Medicine. Hallahan will be named the first Elizabeth H. and James S. McDonnell III Distinguished Professor in Medicine. He will also serve on the Senior Leadership Committee of the Siteman Cancer Center.
Children’s characteristics may determine response to asthma drug
Certain characteristics of preschool-aged children at high risk for asthma could help physicians deliver more personalized and effective treatment. Researchers at the School of Medicine and five other sites nationwide found that children who showed the most improvement in days without wheezing using an inhaled corticosteroid drug were caucasian boys who had allergies and had a hospitalization or emergency department visit for asthma symptoms in the year prior to the trial.
Asthma coaching can reduce hospitalizations in some children
Working with an asthma coach helps to significantly reduce hospitalizations of low-income, African-American children with asthma, results of a new, two-year study show. Researchers at the School of Medicine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill worked with nearly 200 parents of children between 2-8 years old on Medicaid who had been hospitalized for asthma at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
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