School of Medicine

Listed below are this month’s featured news stories. • Protein increases average lifespan (week of Dec. 5) • Alcohol’s link to sex partners (week of Dec. 12) • Tantrum season (week of Dec. 19) • Antidepressants for Parkinson’s (week of Dec. 26)

Courtesy Edward LifesciencesIn a nationwide clinical trial, physicians are testing an investigational device that allows them to insert replacement aortic valves without opening the chest or using a heart-lung machine, making the procedure available to high-risk and formerly inoperable patients. The School of Medicine has been selected as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigative site in the trial evaluating this technique, which uses a far less invasive procedure than the standard open-heart surgery.

The executive faculty of the School of Medicine unanimously approved changing the name of the Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology to the Department of Developmental Biology. The change reflects a shift that has already occurred in the department’s research focus and coincides with the search for a department head.

Whole-body PET scans done three months after completion of cervical cancer therapy can ensure that patients are disease-free.

School of Medicine researchers are seeking volunteers to see whether it’s possible to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis with the malaria drug chloroquine. The human study follows a mouse study that found chloroquine could blunt the progression of plaque buildup in mice that had a genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis.

School of Medicine researchers are seeking volunteers with Parkinson’s disease for studies investigating the effects of two drugs.

Demolition of the old Kingshighway Boulevard bridge Dec. 7-10 and Dec. 14-17 will require closure of Interstate 64/40 at Kingshighway over the two weekends.

Robert BostonThirty-seven second-, third- and fourth-year medical students were recognized with awards at the Student Awards luncheon Nov. 28.

The School of Medicine and BJC HealthCare are going wireless to allow users to connect to either network without plugging in.

Metabolism researchers at the School of Medicine have found that although it does not extend maximum lifespan in mice, activating a protein in muscle tissue increases average lifespan and prevents some age-related diseases. The researchers believe a similar approach may someday help people avoid age-related problems such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension and even some cancers.