School of Medicine

The School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital researchers will receive $300,000 annually for five years to study how infections are acquired in health-care settings.

Abnormal folding patterns of the cerebral cortex in Williams Syndrome are displayed on a lateral view (left) and midline view (right) of a ‘surface-based’ atlas.A computerized atlas has brought unprecedented sensitivity to the search for brain structure changes in a genetic condition known as Williams syndrome, revealing 33 abnormalities in the folding of the brain’s surface. The disorder, which occurs in 1 in every 20,000 births, impairs visual and spatial skills but preserves musical ability and sociability.

Assab and Massawa, the two camels that produced antibodies for the caffeine testThree llamas and two camels have provided a way to tell whether your waiter swapped regular coffee for decaf in your after-dinner cup. Using the heat-resistant antibodies these camels and llamas make, researchers at the School of Medicine are developing a quick test for caffeine that works even with hot beverages. The researchers plan to adapt their technology to a simple test (“dipstick”) that can be used to check for caffeine in a variety of drinks.

A national study performed at the medical school showed that corticosteroids are good for treating symptoms of asthma in preschoolers, but not for preventing the disease. More medical news

WUSTL, BJH will provide free asthma screenings May 20 at the Saint Louis Science Center.

Exercise and losing weight can help obese older people reduce their risks for impaired daily living, limited mobility and functional decline.

Photo by Robert BostonFirst-grader Fairah Jeffries closely inspects a dissected cow’s eyeball in the mini-medicine course at Adams School in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.School of Medicine students led a pilot program to introduce minority grade-school students to medicine and spark their interest in health-care professions.

Older men who have recently fractured a hip or had hip-replacement surgery are needed for a study to see if restoring testosterone to youthful levels and exercise can improve functioning and quality of life.

Washington University in St. Louis will host a symposium May 30-31 to bring together people interested in developing new enterprises in Missouri based on research discoveries.

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.