School of Medicine

An epilepsy drug that has been on the market for decades can ease the symptoms of adult sufferers with a genetic disorder that seriously weakens muscles. Scientists at the School of Medicine retrospectively reviewed results from off-label use of the drug valproate to treat seven adult spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients.

An education and retraining program that previously reduced catheter-associated infections in ICUs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Missouri Baptist Medical Center has been successfully exported to five other medical centers across the nation, clinicians report in the July issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

HarbourJ. William Harbour has been named the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. Washington University Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton joined Larry J. Shapiro, executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine, in announcing the appointment.

Photo courtesy of WUSTLIt’s very important to get sunglasses with UV protection and to wear them at an early age.We all know the importance of using sunscreen to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays, but what about protection for our eyes? July is UV Safety Month and prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays without protection may cause eye conditions that can lead to vision loss, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats are your best protection against UV-related vision problems, but be careful when you’re shopping for sunglasses — the wrong kind of lenses might do more harm than good.

WUSM researchers believe a vitamin vitamin natually found in carrots and tomatoes can protect skin from sunburns. The vitamin. zeaxanthin, is a natural pigment found in fruits and vegetables.

Listed below are this month’s featured news stories. • Low-calorie diet may slow aging (week of June 7) • One hump or two? (week of June 14) • Second chance transplants (week of June 21) • Erotic images get brain’s attention (week of June 28)

The newest concept for treating coronary artery disease is to induce hearts to grow their own new blood vessels to bypass damaged tissue or clogged arteries. Unfortunately, clinical trials of two important blood-vessel growth factors have not produced stellar results. Now researchers at the School of Medicine have investigated a third signaling molecule that could overcome problems associated with the previous two.

The answer to a 50-year-old question has been found by scientists at the School of Medicine. The question: Is it possible to accurately measure the intrinsic filling function of the heart?

Researchers have found that two common organisms collude and collaborate to increase the amount of calories harvested from a class of carbohydrates found in food sweeteners. In the study, conducted in previously germ-free mice, colonization with two prominent human gut microbes led to fatter mice. Scientists at the School of Medicine called the results an illustration of how understanding the menagerie of microorganisms that live in our guts can provide new insights into health.

School of Medicine researchers are developing a quick test for caffeine, a dipstick, that can be used to check for caffeine in a variety of drinks. More medical news