School of Medicine

A first-of-its-kind application of a novel statistical method of analysis to African Americans has identified regions on chromosomes 6 and 21 that likely harbor genes contributing to high blood pressure in that group. The novel statistical method, called admixture mapping, narrowed the search for genes related to hypertension, bringing researchers and doctors closer to finding more effective treatments.

Early treatment is key with Down syndrome.Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, and its occurence is random 95 percent of the time. The condition can be detected during pregnancy, and intervention during infancy can greatly improve outcomes for children with Down syndrome. Learn more about this condition, which affects 350,000 Americans, in the following St. Louis Post-Dispatch article by WUSM pediatrician Kathy Grange.

A new study has shown a stroke-prevention drug designed to be an improvement over prior treatments is less cost-effective for most patients than warfarin, the blood thinner with a 50-year history of helping prevent blood clots and strokes. The study, conducted by researchers at the School of Medicine found, however, that the new drug would be cost-effective for those atrial fibrillation patients whose risk of bleeding is high.

Research on alcoholism and disorders that tend to occur with it will be presented by national experts at the fifth annual Guze Symposium on Alcoholism. The symposium is dedicated to the late Samuel B. Guze, M.D., a pioneer in alcoholism research, who served 18 years as vice chancellor for medical affairs and president of the Washington University Medical Center.

JostR. Gilbert Jost, M.D., the Elizabeth Mallinckrodt Professor and head of Radiology at the School of Medicine, has been named chairman of the board of directors of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The society is an organization of more than 37,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists and related scientists.

Listed below are this month’s featured news stories. • Is field turf safe? (week of Feb. 2) • Heart surgery and depression (week of Feb. 9) • Reversing Alzheimer’s in mice (week of Feb. 16) • Age affects cervical cancer treatments (week of Feb. 23)

Researchers report that people with low overall anxiety levels were more apt to ignore symptoms of rectal cancer for long periods of time.

Genetic variations in a specific protein may be a significant cause of human depression, University researchers say.

The researchers found some regular-strength preparations contain as much as 6.5 parts per million of fluoride, well over the 4 ppm maximum allowed.

Photo by Robert BostonUniversity and city officials celebrate the groundbreaking of the nonprofit Center of Research, Technology & Entrepreneurial Exchange.