MedWorm: Baylor College of Medicine

BIPAI hosting first Libyan national HIV/AIDS conference

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative is hosting the first Libyan HIV/AIDS conference March 15 in Benghazi to provide education on the best clinical and operational practices for care and treatment among BIPAI Network Children's Clinical Centers of Excellence. The meeting, ending March 19, is being held in conjunction with BIPAI's 12th annual network meeting and includes delegates from BIPAI centers in Libya, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Romania and Houston, as well as BIPAI project clinicians from Ethiopia and Mozambique. These centers provide HIV/AIDS care and treatment to more than 58,000 HIV-infected children and their family members. Other participants include BIPAI's network executive directors and vice presidents, Pediatric...

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BCM names Nickens as chief operating officer for clinical group

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

John R. Nickens IV will direct the expansion of clinical operations at Baylor College of Medicine as chief operating officer. As the chief operating officer, Nickens will be accountable for providing overall operational, financial and strategic leadership across all clinical areas. Specifically, Nickens will be responsible for all non-physician employees designated as clinical including a shared reporting structure of the Clinical Department Administrators. Nickens reports directly to Dr. Stephen Spann, senior vice president and dean of clinical affairs. His responsibilities in this position started early this week. A long-time employee of Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Nickens most recently was the vice president of the Physician Services Organization at Texas C...

Texas Psychiatrist John Oldham Voted APA President-elect

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Texas psychiatrist John M. Oldham, M.D., was elected president-elect by members of the American Psychiatric Association. Oldham is senior vice president and chief of staff at The Menninger Clinic and a professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. The election results were formally approved by the Board of Trustees on Saturday. Beginning in May 2010, Dr. Oldham will serve as president-elect for one year and will take office as the APA's 138th president in May 2011... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Texas Psychiatrist John Oldham Voted APA President-elect

Psychology / Psychiatry News From Medical News Today — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Texas psychiatrist John M. Oldham, M.D., was elected president-elect by members of the American Psychiatric Association. Oldham is senior vice president and chief of staff at The Menninger Clinic and a professor of psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. The election results were formally approved by the Board of Trustees on Saturday. Beginning in May 2010, Dr... (Source: Psychology / Psychiatry News From Medical News Today)

Nobel Laureate to receive Alexander Award in Psychiatry, present at BCM grand rounds

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dr. Eric R. Kandel, professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and winner of the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, has been selected as the recipient of the Joan and Stanford Alexander Award in Psychiatry. The award was established in honor of Dr. Stuart Yudofsky, professor and chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. Kandel will present grand rounds March 24 at 10:30 a.m. in BCM’s Cullen Auditorium, where he will speak on “Animal Models of Mental Disorders: Of Mice, Men, and Mental Illness.” The event is open to the public. Each year, the award honors a mental health professional who has made significant contributions in research, education and c...

Chronic illness should not prevent spring break fun

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Plans for a family vacation over spring break don't have to be put on hold when a child is facing cancer or other chronic illnesses, said a pediatric oncologist at Baylor College of Medicine. In fact, family trips and other activities that create a sense of normalcy are encouraged, said Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer, associate professor of pediatrics – hematology/oncology at BCM. Huge emotion benefits "The emotional benefits of that trip to grandma's or spring getaway can be huge," Dreyer said. "We want our patients to do the things that they perceive as normal so when they are through this journey they can look back on it as a positive experience." Anything that allows the family to spend time together should be especially encouraged because chronic illnesses can be divisive ...

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Decoding Desmond Tutu: Baylor College of Medicine maps out key research strategy for groundbreaking genome project

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The genetic code locked inside one of the world’s most famous men may help Houston researchers cure diseases on the other side of the world. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Genome find pushes personalized medicine ahead

Healthcare IT News — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:43:23 +0100

In a scientific coup that could mean leaps for personalized medicine, two Baylor College of Medicine scientists have sequenced an individual's genome and identified the specific causative mutation associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT). The disease is one of the most common inherited neurological disorders currently affecting 1 in 2,500 individuals in the United States. The scientists used genomic analysis technologies from Life Technologies Corp. (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Neonatal cardiac imaging

Pediatric Radiology — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:47:45 +0100

Abstract MRI and CT perform an important complementary role to echocardiography in the initial evaluation of the neonate with congenital heart disease. This review will focus on the indications and technique of neonatal cardiac imaging with MRI and CT. It also includes a brief discussion of the role of conventional radiography in neonatal CHD and the safety of iodinated and gadolinium-based contrast agents in this age group. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory ReviewDOI 10.1007/s00247-010-1549-2Authors Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Baylor College of Medicine Edward B. Singleton Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Texas Children’s Hospital 6621 Fannin St., MC 2-2521 Houston TX 77030 USA Journal Pediatric RadiologyOnline ISSN 1432-1998Print ISSN 0301-0449 Journal Vol...

Scientists Discover Causative Genetic Mutation Associated With Common Inherited Neurological Disorder

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Scientists using advanced genomic analysis technologies from Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) have sequenced an individual's genome and identified the specific causative mutation associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT), one of the most common inherited neurological disorders currently affecting 1 in 2,500 individuals in the United States. In a paper published today by The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), , Baylor College of Medicine doctors Richard Gibbs and James R... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Genomes of an entire family sequenced

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:00:01 +0100

Sequencing the genomes of every family member gives researchers a powerful new tool for tracking down the defective genes that cause inherited diseasesAn American family has become the first to have the entire genome of each member mapped to identify the causes of rare diseases that affect the children.The family of four is unusual because the parents are healthy but both son and daughter have two rare inherited medical conditions that cause facial and limb malformations and lung problems.Mutations in "recessive" genes are responsible for these conditions, meaning that in each case the children must have inherited a defective copy from both their mother and their father to get the disease.One of the conditions, Miller's syndrome, causes facial and limb abnormalities and affects only around...

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The role of inflammatory and fibrogenic pathways in heart failure associated with aging

Heart Failure Reviews — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:17:30 +0100

Abstract Heart failure is strongly associated with aging. Elderly patients with heart failure often have preserved systolic function exhibiting left ventricular hypertrophy accompanied by a decline in diastolic function. Experimental studies have demonstrated that age-related cardiac fibrosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diastolic heart failure in senescent hearts. Reactive oxygen species and angiotensin II are critically involved in fibrotic remodeling of the aging ventricle; their fibrogenic actions may be mediated, at least in part, through transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. The increased prevalence of heart failure in the elderly is also due to impaired responses of the senescent heart to cardiac injury. Aging is associated with suppressed inflammat...

Immunoconjugated gold nanoshell-mediated photothermal ablation of trastuzumab-resistant breast cancer cells

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:17:33 +0100

Abstract Trastuzumab is a FDA-approved drug that has shown clinical efficacy against HER2+ breast cancers and is commonly used in combination with other chemotherapeutics. However, many patients are innately resistant to trastuzumab, or will develop resistance during treatment. Alternative treatments are needed for trastuzumab-resistant patients. Here, we investigate gold nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapies as a potential alternative treatment for chemotherapy-resistant cancers. Gold nanoshell photothermal therapy destroys the tumor cells using heat, a physical mechanism, which is able to overcome the cellular adaptations that bestow trastuzumab resistance. By adding anti-HER2 to the gold surface of the nanoshells as a targeting modality, we increase the specifici...

Pain medicine grant brings renowned molecular neurobiologist to Houston

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The American Academy of Pain Medicine and Pfizer Visiting Professorship in Pain Medicine has awarded Baylor College of Medicine with a grant that will bring internationally known researcher Dr. John N. Wood to Houston. Wood, head of the Molecular Nociception Group and professor of molecular neurobiology at University College in London, will spend three days in discussions with faculty and trainees at BCM and other Texas Medical Center institutions. He will also present a public outreach lecture and a scientific lecture: Public Outreach Lecture: Advances in Molecular Pain Research Monday, March 15, 2010, 7 p.m. The Health Museum 1515 Hermann Drive Houston, TX 77004 For more information contact kdefalco@cns.bcm.edu Scientific Lecture: Peripheral Pain Pathways – Transduction and Wiring ...

Finding Charcot-Marie-Tooth gene ends quest, begins new era of personalized genomic medicine

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

Center for Cell and Gene Therapy renewed as NIH center

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The objective of the PACT program is to advance cellular therapy research in the areas of regeneration of damaged/diseased tissues, organs, … (Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

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Adult hearing loss focus of monthly genetic series

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Adult hearing loss will be the topic of discussion in a public forum on Tuesday, March 23, at the Health Museum of Houston . The forum will feature Dr. Frank Probst, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine , Dr. John Oghalai, associate professor of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery at BCM and director of The Hearing Center at Texas Children's Hospital, and Dr. Richard Lewis, professor of ophthalmology at BCM. The panel will discuss how changes in genes can cause some types of adult hearing loss and provide an overview of current treatments and research. Information about local resources for hearing losses also will be provided. Approximately 17 percent (36 million) of American adults report some degree of hearing loss. Sponsored by BCM a...

Challenging The Theory Of Single Stem Cell For Blood Components

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Components of the blood or hematopoietic system derive from stem cell subtypes rather than one single stem cell that gives rise to all the different kinds of blood cells equally, said scientists from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell (http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/) "While previous reports in journals have hinted at the possibility of stem cell subtypes, this study represents the clearest data to show that is true," said Dr. Margaret Goodell, director of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (STaR) Center at BCM... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Challenging The Theory Of Single Stem Cell For Blood Components

Stem Cell Research News From Medical News Today — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Theory of single stem cell for blood components challenged

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Components of the blood or hematopoietic system derive from stem cell subtypes rather than one single stem cell that gives rise to all the different kinds of blood cells equally, said scientists from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell . "While previous reports in journals have hinted at the possibility of stem cell subtypes, this study represents the clearest data to show that is true," said Dr. Margaret Goodell, director of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (STaR) Center at BCM. "From a scientific point of view, it's making us re-evaluate the view of the stem cells that come from adults. It challenges the dogma that there is one type of stem cell." She and the report's first author, Dr. Grant A....

Bell named general counsel of Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Jerry Bell has been named senior vice president and general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer of Baylor College of Medicine. The appointment was made by the BCM Board of Trustees. Bell will retain his position as a partner with Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. in Houston and as co-head of the firm's Health Law Department. Bell has been providing legal assistance to the College on an interim basis since September and has assisted BCM on a variety of legal issues for the last 20 years. Bell is board certified in health law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is an adjunct professor of law at The University of Texas Law School where he teaches "Business and Regulatory Aspects of Health Law." He is a 1977 graduate of The University of Texas School of...

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Colon Cancer Quiz

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

How much do you know about colon cancer? Your life could depend on separating factual information from myth. Test your knowledge and then test your family and friends. Quiz prepared by Dr. Waqar Qureshi Professor of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Chief of Endoscopy, Baylor Clinic Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and third leading cause of death among men and women. True: If undetected, colorectal cancer can penetrate the colon walls and spread to nearby lymph nodes, blood vessels or organs. Without early detection and treatment, the prognosis can be deadly. Colorectal cancer is almost 100% preventable. True: Understanding your risk factors and being screened regularly allows doctors to prevent colon cancer or catch the disease early enough to stop it from spreading. ...

Theory of single stem cell for blood components challenged

EurekAlert! - Biology — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Baylor College of Medicine) Components of the blood or hematopoietic system derive from stem cell subtypes rather than one single stem cell that gives rise to all the different kinds of blood cells equally, said scientists from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)

Baylor hires firm to assist in meeting operational, financial goals

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Baylor College of Medicine has hired FTI Consulting Inc. to assist in improving the college's operations and in developing a capital restructuring plan to address outstanding debt. FTI focuses on strategic, operational, financial and capital needs of businesses and academic institutions. Scott Davido, managing director of FTI Corporate Finance, will serve as the college's chief implementation officer. He will report to a committee of the BCM Board of Trustees, chaired by trustee Fred Lummis. The college has conducted a comprehensive financial analysis over the past year. Davido comes on board to help in identifying and implementing operational efficiencies as well as working with BCM's lenders. "Over the past 15 months, the college has been successful in making the improvements that g...

BCM receives accreditation for Emergency Medicine Residency

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has granted accreditation for an Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine with the initial plan for all training to occur at the Harris County Hospital District's Ben Taub General Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital. "The program will bring a new level of emergency care for the Houston community," said Dr. Shkelzen Hoxhaj , interim chief of the section of emergency medicine at BCM and chief of emergency services at Ben Taub General Hospital. "Currently, there is only one other emergency medicine residency program in Houston, and six in the entire state of Texas, so this new program is much needed." Top notch training The new program received a three-year accreditation, the longest such...

Baylor-Methodist Community Fund grants announced

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Baylor-Methodist Community Fund recently awarded $2.3 million to 46 Houston area charitable organizations, disbursing grants from the $16 million joint fund for the fourth time since its inception. The fund, created by Baylor College of Medicine and The Methodist Hospital in 2006, promotes health care in the Greater Houston area. Funding priorities are for the medically underserved in the areas of childhood immunization, preventative care, health care access, dental service and behavioral/mental health. The joint committee, which includes three board members from each institution, has awarded grants this year to organizations such as Catholic Charities, Healthcare for the Homeless and El Centro de Corazon. For more information, and for an application, please see http://www.ghcf.org/Bay...

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Plays focus on cancer risks in Hispanic, African American communities

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

Clinical trials strive to find new treatments for heart aliments

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Despite their best efforts, some might need a helping hand when it comes to keeping the heart healthy. Baylor College of Medicine researchers and physicians are currently working to find new treatments and prevention methods to stave off heart ailments. "Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, can sometimes have no symptoms until you have a heart attack," said Dr. Christie Ballantyne , professor and interim chief of cardiology and chief of the section of atherosclerosis and vascular medicine at BCM. "We are hoping to find ways to noninvasively assess the response to various therapies for atherosclerosis and other heart related ailments." The following studies are currently enrolling participants: AIM HIGH in cholesterol study (MRI study) Volunteers are needed for...

Clinical trials strive to find new treatments for heart ailments

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dual proton pump inhibitor plus amoxicillin as an empiric anti-H. pylori therapy: studies from the United States

Journal of Gastroenterology — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:01:51 +0100

Conclusions If the hypothesis that consistently high intragastric pH is required to reliably achieve more than 90% H. pylori eradication, our regimen was not sufficient. Success may require more than every 8 h dosing, the concomitant administration of sodium bicarbonate, or the use of a long-acting PPI. However, the result was positive in that dual therapy with the doses tested here was at least as successful as empiric triple therapy. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original Article—Alimentary TractDOI 10.1007/s00535-010-0220-xAuthors David Y. Graham, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine RM 3A-320 (111D), 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston TX 77030 USASyed Ussama Javed, Michael E. DeBakey ...

Repeatability of corneal power and wavefront aberration measurements with a dual-Scheimpflug Placido corneal topographer

Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Purpose: To evaluate the repeatability of the Galilei dual-Scheimpflug analyzer in measuring corneal curvature, wavefront aberrations, pachymetry, and anterior chamber depth (ACD).Setting: Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.Methods: Three consecutive measurements were performed in 1 eye of each subject. The following were evaluated: (1) mean total corneal power at the central, paracentral, and peripheral zones (0.0 to 4.0 mm, 4.0 to 7.0 mm, and 7.0 to 8.0 mm, respectively) and posterior corneal power (Kavg); (2) corneal higher-order wavefront aberrations (6.0 mm pupil); (3) mean pachymetry at the central, paracentral, and peripheral zones; and (4) ACD. Repeatability was assessed by calculating the within-subject standard deviation (SD), coefficient of var...

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Medical Professionalism Issues Linked to Axis I, II Disorders

Clinical Psychiatry News — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

BALTIMORE — A significant number of medical residents who are referred for professionalism problems have Axis I or Axis II psychopathology. Dr. Gabrielle S. Hobday, forensic psychiatry fellow at Emory University, Atlanta, and Dr. Glen O. Gabbard, professor of psychiatry at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, reviewed records of outpatient psychiatric evaluations of U.S. and Canadian physicians conducted by Dr. Gabbard from 1997 to 2009. (Source: Clinical Psychiatry News)

BCM Breast Center joins Methodist, UT Health Science Center Houston team to study breast cancer stem cells

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Researchers with the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine have joined a team that includes groups from The Methodist Hospital and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to better understand mechanisms of tumor-initiating breast cancer cells, which are resistant to chemotherapy and may be responsible for cancer recurrence and metastasis. The team was formed through a five-year, $11.5 million National Institutes of Health center grant to Methodist. The BCM team will receive approximately $5.5 million of the grant. “We will be trying to identify these tumor-initiating cells more precisely and expand our analysis of genetic regulators with the hopes of identifying new therapeutic targets,” said Dr. … (Source: Baylor College of Med...

Whole Genome Analysis Solves Medical Mystery in One Family, Comes Nearer to Routine Use

NHGRI-Related News — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:00:00 +0100

: For the first time, researchers use whole genome sequencing to achieve a molecular diagnosis in a family with a genetic disorder. The results suggest that in the near future, genome sequencing could become a routine part of medical care, both to diagnose rare disorders and help estimate the risk of common disorders. The effort was led by investigators at Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas, and funded in part by NHGRI. (Source: NHGRI-Related News)

Texas nutrition policy shows positive results

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Texas Public School Nutrition Policy, which began in the 2004-2005 school year, was designed to improve dietary intake at school by the state's youngsters. An analysis of the policy directed by experts at the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital shows that it worked. The report appears in the current issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association . "The results show that this is a good policy," said Dr. Jason Mendoza, assistant professor of pediatrics-nutrition at BCM. "It also shows the need to incorporate this policy in all school food environments including snack bars and vending machines, where many high energy density foods are present." "Energy density is a measure of energy (...

Physical symptoms could be sign of depression

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Depression and chronic mood disorders can manifest themselves through physical symptoms, said an expert at Baylor College of Medicine . "It's something that is very commonly seen," said Dr. Sanjay Mathew , associate professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at BCM. "Physical symptoms are what often drive a patient to see a primary care physician in the first place, and then with further questioning, the diagnosis of depression may emerge." Irritable bowel, chronic pain Symptoms that may indicate depression include gastrointestinal syndromes such as irritable bowel or chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, tension or migraine headaches. There also appears to be a lower threshold for pain in some patients with depression, Mathew sa...

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Learning to walk takes time, strength, motor skill development

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Learning to walk is a complex skill that should not be rushed, and there is usually no need for a parent to become overly alarmed if his or her infant takes longer to begin walking than other kids, says a pediatrician from Baylor College of Medicine. "During early parenthood, seeing your child take their first steps is one of the most anticipated moments," said Dr. Sara Rizvi, an assistant professor at BCM and a pediatrician at Texas Children's Hospital. "Often, parents become concerned if their child is not walking as soon as the other kids his or her age." Parents should understand the complex motor skills and strength development that must slowly build to achieve successful walking. Rizvi outlined key strength and motor skill development parents can follow as their c...

Assessment predicts progression of Alzheimer's Disease

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

An assessment that reliably predicts the progression of Alzheimer's disease has been developed by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine . The findings, which appear in the current edition of the journal Alzheimer's Research & Therapy , also found that those with a slower progression of the disease live longer. "Patients and families frequently ask clinicians to predict expected rates of cognitive and functional decline, and clinicians currently have little basis for making such decisions," said Dr. Rachelle Doody , professor of neurology and director of BCM's Alzheimer's Disease and Memory Disorders Center . "We have found that a simple, calculated progression rate at the initial visit gives reliable information regarding performance over time." Identifying fact...

Aphid's Genome Reflects Its Reproductive, Symbiotic Lifestyle

NHGRI-Related News — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:00:00 +0100

: The genome of the pea aphid, has been sequenced by the International Aphid Genomics Consortium. Dr. Stephen Richards, assistant professor in the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center is the leader of the sequencing effort. The consortium released the 464 megabase draft genome of the pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) in the current issue of PLoS Biology. The aphid sequencing was funded by NHGRI. (Source: NHGRI-Related News)

IVF fertility issues discussed

NHS News Feed — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:13:00 +0100

“An extreme form of IVF that forces individual sperm into eggs is being overused and may pass on infertility to the next generation,” The Daily Telegraph reported. It said ICSI treatment, used in cases where there is poor quality or low numbers of sperm, is being used too widely despite these risks. Several other newspapers reported this story, based on a presentation at this year’s conference for the Advancing Science Serving Society (AAAS). What is ICSI? In 1992 a new technique was developed called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into an extracted egg cell. This can be used to help men with fertility problems, such as having a low sperm count, less motile sperm, or sperm that has difficulty fertilising the mother’s egg. This...

Predicting The Progression Of Alzheimer's

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0100

An assessment has been developed which reliably predicts future performance in cognition and activities of daily living for patients with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Alzheimer's Research & Therapy followed 597 patients over 15 years to identify factors associated with slow, intermediate and rapid progression. Professor Rachelle Doody worked with a team of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, US, to carry out the study... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Endovascular treatment and radiographic follow-up of proximal traumatic intracranial aneurysms in adolescents: case series and review of the literature

Child's Nervous System — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:19:54 +0100

Conclusions Traumatic intracranial aneurysms at the skull base can be successfully treated with endovascular methods; however, close follow-up is necessary. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Brief CommunicationDOI 10.1007/s00381-010-1104-3Authors Daniel H. Fulkerson, Baylor College of Medicine Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Texas Children’s Hospital Houston TX USAJason M. Voorhies, Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery Indianapolis IN USAShannon P. McCanna, Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Neurosurgery Indianapolis IN USATroy D. Payner, Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group Indianapolis IN USAThomas J. Leipzig, Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group Indianapolis IN USAJohn A. Scott, Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group Indiana...

Aphid's genome reflects its reproductive, symbiotic lifestyle

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Aphids could be considered the "mosquitoes" of the plant world, depending on the "blood" of plants to survive. They live in symbiosis with bacteria that pass from one generation to the next, producing essential amino acids. Aphids with the same genotype can be wingless or winged. In different seasons, they develop as asexual females who produce offspring with identical genes through parthenogenesis. When temperatures drop, they can give birth to males who then fertilize the eggs laid by females. The genome of the pea aphid, sequenced by the International Aphid Genomics Consortium, reflects these unusual characteristics and more, said Dr. Stephen Richards, assistant professor in the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center and leader of the sequencing ef...

Grant awarded to study protein involved in common bone cancer

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dr. Tsz-Kwong Man, a researcher with the Texas Children's Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine , has a received a grant from the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative to study the function of a protein that may promote the spread of a common form of children's bone cancer called osteosarcoma. "This is a devastating cancer," said Man, principal investigator of the study. "Once the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, and it often does, it can be very aggressive and has poor survival rates." That's why it is important to continue research into identifying a useful drug target to stop development of the cancer spread, Man said. Sarcoma is a cancer of the connective tissues, such as nerves, muscles, cartilage, joints, bone or blood vessels. It often appears in the l...

New type of pneumococcal infection dominates in wake of vaccine

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The pneumococcal vaccine for infants and children introduced in 2000 caused a precipitous drop in infections until 2005, when serious illnesses began to rise again, especially infections caused by a strain of the pneumococcal bacteria called 19A, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in a report in the current issue of the journal Pediatrics . "Of the serotypes (or variants) of Streptococcus pneumoniae (the bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease) now causing invasive disease, 19A is responsible for almost half the infections in children," said Dr. Sheldon Kaplan, head of the section of pediatric infectious diseases at BCM and chief of infectious disease services at Texas Children's. Resistance to multiple common antibiotics occurs in abo...

11.5 Million Dollars NIH Center Grant Funds Novel Cancer Stem Cell Research At The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute was awarded an $11.5 million Center Grant by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) to study the best way to attack deadly cancer stem cells to enhance treatments for breast cancer. Other members of the team include Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. "Targeting cancer stem cells, rather than cancer cells, is a completely new strategy for treating cancer," said Dr... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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11.5 Million Dollars NIH Center Grant Funds Novel Cancer Stem Cell Research At The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Stem Cell Research News From Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute was awarded an $11.5 million Center Grant by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) to study the best way to attack deadly cancer stem cells to enhance treatments for breast cancer. Other members of the team include Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston... (Source: Stem Cell Research News From Medical News Today)

Baylor nets $9.5M for macromolecular imaging center

Health Imaging News — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:56:38 +0100

The National Center for Macromolecular Imaging at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, has received a five-year, $9.5 million award from the National Center for Research Resources for the development of technology in the field of electron cryo-microscopy. (Source: Health Imaging News)

Baylor nets $9.5M for macromolecular imaging center

Health Imaging News — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:56:38 +0100

Laparoscopic repair of an incarcerated right indirect sliding inguinal hernia involving a retroperitoneal ileum

Hernia — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:49:55 +0100

Conclusion When faced with an unforeseen anomaly during herniorrhaphy in which improved abdominal visualization is necessary, a surgeon may convert from a TEP to a transabdominal laparoscopic approach safely and effectively. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportDOI 10.1007/s10029-010-0638-3Authors R. E. Freundlich, Baylor College of Medicine Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM390 Houston TX 77030 USAL. T. Hawes, University of Minnesota Department of Surgery Minneapolis MN USAS. A. Weldon, Baylor College of Medicine Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery Houston TX USAF. C. Brunicardi, Baylor College of Medicine Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery One Baylor Plaza, Mail Stop BCM...

2010 Whitmore Presidential Lecture brings two nationally recognized health care leaders to Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Dr. Darrell G. Kirch, president and CEO of the Association of American Medical Colleges, will speak at Baylor College of Medicine as a part of the 2010 Whitmore Presidential Lectures. Kirch's lecture, Driving Change in Academic Medicine, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. in BCM's Cullen Auditorium. Dr. Charles Hatem, the Harold Amos Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, will also speak as a part of the lecture series on Friday, Feb. 26, at noon in BCM's DeBakey Building, M112. Kirch, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Colorado and went on to work in all aspects of academic medicine, including leadership positions at two medical schools and teaching hospitals and at the National Institutes of Health....

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Volunteers needed for teen nutrition study

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine is recruiting volunteers for a study on sugar and fat metabolism. Researchers are looking for Hispanic females between 13 and 17 years of age who have a sedentary lifestyle and are not on any medications. Participants must not have a parent or sibling with diabetes or high blood sugar. Participants will be compensated for their time. For more information, contact Marilyn at 713-798-7002. (Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

Genomes of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 4 other Africans, add to knowledge of human diversity

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Analyzing the genomic structure of five men descended from the hunter-gatherers of southern Africa – including famed South African Bishop Desmond Tutu – reveals surprising ways in which the genetic codes of these groups differ from others in the world and from each other, said a consortium of experts including those from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears today in the journal Nature . In the report, the group describes the fully sequenced genomes of an individual descended from a hunter-gatherer society in the Kalahari Desert and Archbishop Tutu, a Bantu from southern Africa. They also describe the genomic protein coding regions of the genetic codes of three others from various areas of the Kalahari. "These genomes represent an important advance in underst...

Enzyme presents therapeutic target in breast cancer brain metastasis

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The enzyme heparanase plays a critical role in the spread of breast cancer cells to the brain, and, as such, is a promising target for future treatment, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the University of California – Los Angeles, in a report in the current issue of the American Association of Cancer Research journal Molecular Cancer Research . Allows cells to enter circulation, increases proliferation The activity of this enzyme, which degrades the extracellular matrix to allow cells to escape into the surrounding tissue and circulation, is associated with the activation of HER2/epidermal growth factor receptor, said Dr. Dario Marchetti , the senior author of the report that elucidates the enzyme's role in spreading cancer cells to the … (Source: Baylor Coll...

Baylor College of Medicine entity earns $9.5M grant

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 02:52:54 +0100

A Baylor College of Medicine entity has received a five-year, $9.5 million award from the National Center for Research Resources. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

The Epigenetic Landscape of Mammary Gland Development and Functional Differentiation

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:41:59 +0100

Abstract Most of the development and functional differentiation in the mammary gland occur after birth. Epigenetics is defined as the stable alterations in gene expression potential that arise during development and proliferation. Epigenetic changes are mediated at the biochemical level by the chromatin conformation initiated by DNA methylation, histone variants, post-translational modifications of histones, non-histone chromatin proteins, and non-coding RNAs. Epigenetics plays a key role in development. However, very little is known about its role in the developing mammary gland or how it might integrate the many signalling pathways involved in mammary gland development and function that have been discovered during the past few decades. An inverse relationship between mar...

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Master Gene SRC-3 Enables Breast Cancer Growth, Invasion

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Master Gene SRC-3 Enables Breast Cancer Growth, Invasion

Breast Cancer News From Medical News Today — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0100

Rapid flu test can miss novel H1N1 virus

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

A negative rapid flu test did not necessarily mean that the patient did not have the 2009 H1N1 influenza, said experts at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in a report that appears online today in the journal Pediatrics . "The test was specific. That means that if it was positive, it's very likely that the child truly had influenza. However, the test was not very sensitive. A negative test did not mean the child did not have the flu," said Dr. Andrea T. Cruz, assistant professor of pediatrics – emergency medicine at BCM and Texas Children's Hospital and lead author of the study. Don't rule out H1N1 The study compared more than 3,000 rapid influenza diagnostic tests for H1N1 influenza collected over a four-month period to results from the two long-term...

Healthcare apartheid and quality of life for people with disabilities

Quality of Life Research — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:58:30 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory CommentaryDOI 10.1007/s11136-010-9607-7Authors Margaret A. Nosek, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Center for Research on Women with Disabilities 1475 West Gray, Suite 165 Houston TX 77019 USA Journal Quality of Life ResearchOnline ISSN 1573-2649Print ISSN 0962-9343 (Source: Quality of Life Research)

Master gene SRC-3 enables breast cancer growth, invasion

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Baylor College of Medicine) The master gene SRC-3 not only enhances estrogen-dependent growth of cancer cells, it also sends a signal to the cell membrane to promote cell movement -- a key element of cancer metastasis, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers and collaborators. The finding not only uncovers a new activity for SRC-3, it also clears up a mystery about how the message that tells a cell to invade gets from the epidermal growth factor receptor to the activating enzyme. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

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Master gene SRC-3 enables breast cancer growth, invasion

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The master gene called SRC-3 (steroid receptor coactivator 3) not only enhances estrogen-dependent growth of cancer cells by activating and encouraging the transcription of a genetic message into a protein, it also sends a signal to the cell membrane to promote cell motility or movement – a key element of cancer spread or metastasis, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers and collaborators in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Molecular Cell . The finding not only uncovers a new activity for SRC-3 at the cell's periphery, it also clears up a mystery about how the message that tells a cell to invade gets from the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to the activating enzyme called FAK (focal adhesion kinase) found on the cell's membrane, said Dr. Bert O'...

National Center for Macromolecular Imaging receives five-year, $9.5 million award

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The National Center for Macromolecular Imaging at Baylor College of Medicine has received a five-year, $9.5 million award from the National Center for Research Resources, maintaining a record of more than 24 years of support to advance the development of research technology in the field of electron cryo-microscopy. NCRR, part of the National Institutes of Health, supports scientists and clinical researchers to advance critical technologies in structural biology, genomics, proteomics, imaging and computing in order to understand, detect, treat and prevent a wide range of diseases. BCM's Macromolecular Imaging Center is an NCRR-designated Biomedical Technology Research Center for Structural Biology. It was established 22 years ago at BCM by Dr. Wah Chiu . 3-D structures This center's mission...

Epigenetics in Mammary Gland Biology and Cancer

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:51:11 +0100

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory PrefaceDOI 10.1007/s10911-010-9171-3Authors Eve Devinoy, INRA, UR1196, Génomique et Physiologie de la Lactation 78 352 Jouy en josas Cedex FranceMonique Rijnkels, Pediatrics-Nutrition, USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine 1100 Bates Street Houston TX 77030-2600 USA Journal Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and NeoplasiaOnline ISSN 1573-7039Print ISSN 1083-3021 (Source: Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia)

Take steps to prevent, control heart disease

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

Healthy diet helps diabetics reduce heart disease risk

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The relationship between diabetes and heart disease should not be ignored, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine . "Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes, and diabetes is the leading cause of heart disease in America," said Dr. Alan Garber , professor of medicine in the section of endocrinology at BCM. Heart healthy lifestyle To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, patients with diabetes must maintain an exceptionally low level of LDL cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, and a lower target blood pressure. To do this, they must incorporate a heart healthy diet with their diabetes diet of low calories and sugars. A heart healthy diet includes reducing saturated fats. "Maintaining cholesterol and blood press...

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Epigenetic Modifications in 3D: Nuclear Organization of the Differentiating Mammary Epithelial Cell

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:46:05 +0100

Abstract During the development of tissues, complex programs take place to reach terminally differentiated states with specific gene expression profiles. Epigenetic regulations such as histone modifications and chromatin condensation have been implicated in the short and long-term control of transcription. It has recently been shown that the 3D spatial organization of chromosomes in the nucleus also plays a role in genome function. Indeed, the eukaryotic interphase nucleus contains sub-domains that are characterized by their enrichment in specific factors such as RNA Polymerase II, splicing machineries or heterochromatin proteins which render portions of the genome differentially permissive to gene expression. The positioning of individual genes relative to these sub-domai...

Reduce stress, reduce liklihood of heart ailments

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

There is more to heart health than just exercising and eating right. Doctors at Baylor College of Medicine say reducing stress could also keep your ticker in tip-top shape. "There is evidence stress is associated with cardiovascular events. It has been shown that people living a high-stress life are more likely to suffer from heart ailments," said Dr. Biykem Bozkurt , professor of medicine at BCM. "Also, during times of high stress, like natural disasters, the number of heart attack cases rise for that affected area." Bozkurt, who is also chief of cardiology at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, director of the Winters Center for Heart Failure Research at Baylor College of Medicine and a physician with the Baylor Heart Clinic and Women's Center for ...

Children with congenital heart disease need life-long cardio plan

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Parents of children who were diagnosed with heart defects as infants, a condition known as congenital heart disease, can help manage their child's condition by seeking treatment and planning for a lifetime of follow-up care, said an expert at Baylor College of Medicine . The initial diagnosis can be challenging for new parents, said Dr. Wayne Franklin, medical director of the Texas Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center at BCM , but most of these heart defects can be addressed and treated as a child progresses to adulthood. Congenital is a term used for conditions present at birth. Congenital heart disease occurs when there is a defect with the heart structure and function. This defect is caused by abnormal heart development before birth. While some cases are made in-utero, when the mother ...

Reduce stress, reduce likelihood of heart ailments

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Houston health care entities target Burmese refugees

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:57:30 +0100

The Physician Assistant Foundation and Baylor College of Medicine have teamed up to provide health care and social services to Burmese refugees in Houston. (CVX) (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Researchers reveal 3-D structure of bullet-shaped virus with potential to fight cancer, HIV

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Vesicular stomatitis virus, or VSV, has long been a model system for studying and understanding the life cycle of negative-strand RNA viruses, which include viruses that cause influenza, measles and rabies. More importantly, research has shown that VSV has the potential to be genetically modified to serve as an anti-cancer agent, exercising high selectivity in killing cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, and as a potent vaccine against HIV. For such modifications to occur, however, scientists must have an accurate picture of the virus's structure. While three-dimensional structural information of VSV's characteristic bullet shape and its assembly process has been sought for decades, efforts have been hampered by technological and methodological limitations...

Dwarfism topic of monthly genetic series

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Short stature and dwarfism will be the topic of discussion in a public seminar Feb. 16 at the Health Museum of Houston . About two out of 100 children have short stature, which can be caused by a variety of genetic conditions such as dwarfism, brittle bone syndromes or a growth hormone deficiency. The forum will feature Dr. V. Reid Sutton , associate professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, and Stephanie O’Connor, physical therapist at Texas Children's Hospital, who will offer information about genetic causes of the disease and give physical therapy tips. Sponsored by BCM and Texas Children’s Hospital, the event is part of the monthly “Evening with Genetics” lecture series organized by BCM’s department of molecular and human gen...

Removal of ovaries following cancer diagnosis improves survival rate

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Women who have recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or who are at a high risk for developing the disease may benefit from having their ovaries removed, said a gynecologic oncologist at Baylor College of Medicine. “For patients with a new diagnosis of ovarian cancer, surgery significantly impacts their survival,” said Dr. Concepcion Diaz-Arrastia, director of gynecologic oncology and an assistant professor at BCM. “For high-risk women – women who have previously had breast cancer or have a family history of ovarian cancer – surgical removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries significantly reduces her chances of developing the disease.” Ovarian cancer is cancer of the ovaries, the female organs most important during a woman’s reproductive age....

Increased size of solid organs in patients with Chuvash polycythemia and in mice with altered expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α

Journal of Molecular Medicine — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:01:53 +0100

Abstract Chuvash polycythemia, the first hereditary disease associated with dysregulated oxygen-sensing to be recognized, is characterized by a homozygous germ-line loss-of-function mutation of the VHL gene (VHL R200W ) resulting in elevated hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α levels, increased red cell mass and propensity to thrombosis. Organ volume is determined by the size and number of cells, and the underlying molecular control mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Work from several groups has demonstrated that the proliferation of cells is regulated in opposite directions by HIF-1α and HIF-2α. HIF-1α inhibits cell proliferation by displacing MYC from the promoter of the gene encoding the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21Cip1, thereby inducing its...

Sperm Retrieval During Critical Illness

Neurocritical Care — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:23:34 +0100

In conclusion, although successful and unsuccessful pregnancies following sperm removal from critically-ill patients are reported, no firm probability predictions for either result are known. Acute and chronic diseases that effect the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and multiple medications common to the ICU may reduce sperm production or function. Retrieval methods before and after cardio-respiratory death differ and often require intracytoplasmic sperm injection or other in vitro fertilization techniques to achieve a subsequent pregnancy. The proactive development of a collaborative policy/procedure to identify appropriate roles for the hospital, its employees, and affiliated critical care and urology physicians is strongly recommended. Content Type Journal ArticleCatego...

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Patient-to-nurse ratios not measurement for quality care delivered to premature infants

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The patient-to-nurse ratio for moderately premature infants in a newborn intensive care unit is not a good measurement of quality of care, said health services researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a study that appears in the current online edition of the journal Pediatrics . Lead author Dr. Jochen Profit, an assistant professor of pediatrics—neonatology and of medicine—health services research at BCM, said increased patient-to-nurse ratios have been associated with negative outcomes in many kinds of patients in intensive care units and in hospital settings, but there have been no definitive studies in the newborn intensive care setting. Making the grade The information is needed to guide health policy decisions on how best to deliver care, Profit said. There are exist...

Clinical and genetic risk factors for venous thromboembolism in Chinese population

Frontiers of Medicine in China — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:56:07 +0100

Abstract Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, carries significant mortality and morbidity. The most important and effective way to reduce VTE incidence is to identify the patients at risk and give necessary prevention. VTE is a multifactorial and complicated disorder. Major risk factors for VTE include surgery and trauma, acute medical illness, active cancer and pregnancy. Genetic factors increase susceptibility to the disease and are useful in predicting the development of VTE. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions alter and magnify the clinical picture in this disorder. This brief review summarizes some selected clinical and genetic risk factors for VTE based on the current research in China. Content Type Journal Ar...

BCM genetics department hosts second annual high school educational conference

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine will host an educational conference for advanced biology students at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas Feb. 10. "It is exciting to continue with this project that we started last year that exposes young people to science and, in particular, genetics," said Dr. Fernando Scaglia, associate professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM, leader of the program and mentor to the students. "We hope that students will feel attracted to science and that increasing numbers of them will follow scientific careers." Genetics Night The event is sponsored by the The American Society of Human Genetics, the Genetics Society of America, the National Sciences Resources Center and the National Association...

Blood-nerve barrier model allows closer look at diseases affecting peripheral nerves

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The cells regarded as the "gate-keepers" of the barrier between blood circulation and the peripheral nerves have been hard to study and even harder to isolate. However, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have created a laboratory model that will enable scientists to study a wide variety of diseases affecting peripheral nerves. They describe their model in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. Specialized vascular system "The barrier is known as the blood-nerve barrier and it regulates how peripheral nerves work. Peripheral nerves connect the central nervous system to the muscles of the limbs and sensory organs. This 'gate keeper' is a specialized vascular system that allows for proper nerve function by enabling the necessa...

Assessment of DNA methylation at the interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) promoter region in inflammatory bowel diseases

International Journal of Colorectal Disease — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:02:24 +0100

Conclusions These results implicate that epigenetic dysregulation of the IRF5 promoter is unlikely to be associated with IBD. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00384-010-0874-0Authors Alfred Balasa, Baylor College of Medicine Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology Houston TX USAGrace Gathungu, Yale University Section of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal Medicine New Haven CT USAPeter Kisfali, University of Pecs Department of Medical Genetics Pecs HungaryE O’Brian Smith, USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Center Houston TX USAJudy H. Cho, Yale University Section of Digestive Disease, Department of Internal Medicine New Haven CT USABela Melegh, University of Pecs Department of Medical Genetics Pecs HungaryRichard Kellermayer, Bay...

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Uncorrelated Activity In The Brain

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:00:00 +0100

Interconnected networks of neurons process information and give rise to perception by communicating with one another via small electrical impulses known as action potentials. In the past, scientists believed that adjacent neurons synchronized their action potentials. However, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Germany said in a current report in the journal Science that this synchronization does not happen. Their findings provide detail as to how the brain accesses and processes information... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MR imaging findings suggestive of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus

Pediatric Radiology — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:57:29 +0100

Conclusion MRI changes suggestive of vasogenic edema and PRES may be seen in children with active lupus and hypertension. The differential diagnosis of seizures and altered mental status should include PRES in children, as it does in adults. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00247-009-1540-yAuthors Eyal Muscal, Texas Children’s Hospital Baylor College of Medicine and Pediatric Rheumatology Center 6621 Fannin St., MC 3-2290 Houston TX 77030 USAElfrides Traipe, Texas Children’s Hospital Baylor College of Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging Houston TX USAMarietta M. de Guzman, Texas Children’s Hospital Baylor College of Medicine and Pediatric Rheumatology Center 6621 Fannin St., MC 3-2290 Houston TX 77030 USABarry L. Myones, Texas Childre...

Uncorrelated activity in brain helps function

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Interconnected networks of neurons process information and give rise to perception by communicating with one another via small electrical impulses known as action potentials. In the past, scientists believed that adjacent neurons synchronized their action potentials. However, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Germany said in a current report in the journal Science that this synchronization does not happen. Neurons in cortical circuits. Image courtesy of Andreas Tolias Lab, Baylor College of Medicine. Their findings provide detail as to how the brain accesses and processes information. "Understanding healthy neuronal activity is one of the first steps to unlocking the brains … (Source: Baylor College of Medicine N...

New Glioblastoma Therapy Research From Baylor College Of Medicine

Cancercompass News: Other Cancer — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A new study, 'HER2-specific T cells target primary glioblastoma stem cells and induce regression of autologous experimental tumors,' is now available. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive human primary brain tumor and is currently incurable. Immunotherapies have the potential to target GBM stem cells, which are resistant to conventional therapies, investigators in the United States report. (Source: Cancercompass News: Other Cancer)

Newborn screen can protect infants from vaccine-acquired rotavirus

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

In this report, experts examined three cases in which infants developed … (Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

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Epigenetic Regulation in Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer—Role in Treatment Response

Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:04:18 +0100

Abstract Recent advances in breast cancer treatment have allowed increasing numbers of patients with estrogen receptor (ER) positive (+) breast cancer to receive various forms of endocrine therapy. Unfortunately, de novo and acquired resistance to endocrine therapy remains a major challenge in the clinic. A number of possible mechanisms for drug resistance have been described, which include activation of growth factor receptor pathways, overexpression of ER coactivators, and metabolic resistance due to polymorphisms in metabolizing enzymes. While many of these changes are caused by genetic alterations, there is also increasing evidence to implicate epigenetic gene regulatory mechanisms in the development of endocrine resistance. Since epigenetic modifications are easier to...

Intra-articular hyaluronic acid increases cartilage breakdown biomarker in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Clinical Rheumatology — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:03:28 +0100

Abstract Intra-articular hyaluronic acid has been used in treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis. Though its effect on pain has been well studied, it is not clear how it affects the articular cartilage. This is a preliminary study to evaluate the kinetics of urinary collagen type-II C-telopeptide (CTX-II) as a biomarker of collagen breakdown in response to intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Intra-articular injections of hyaluronan were administered to ten patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Urine collection for urinary CTX-II was obtained at baseline, before each injection and once every other week for a total of 6 months. Urine CTX-II was measured using a CartiLaps© ELISA kit. There was a st...

Don't panic over thyroid cancer diagnosis

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Many patients panic when suspicious nodules or lumps are discovered in their thyroid. But in fact, thyroid cancer is highly treatable and has high survival rates, said an endocrinologist at Baylor College of Medicine . "Most patients do not die of thyroid cancer. Once the cancer is removed, most have a very good prognosis," said Dr. Morali Sharma , associate professor of medicine -- diabetes, endocrinology and metabolism at BCM. Sharma said thyroid cancer is slow-growing and less aggressive when compared to other cancers. "Survival rates are much better." Although the function of the thyroid is not affected by the cancer, the cancer must be removed to prevent spread to other parts of the body, Sharma said. Visible warning signs Some thyroid nodules are large enough that...

Parents: Thyroid health critical in children's development

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Parents should take any indication of thyroid disease in children seriously, according to experts at Baylor College of Medicine . "Thyroid disease is one of the most common endocrine disorders in childhood," said Dr. Sheila Gunn, assistant professor of pediatrics in the section of endocrinology and metabolism at BCM and Texas Children's Hospital. When children are born, they are immediately given a thyroid screen, which is reviewed at their two-week checkup. If the doctor indicates an issue with the thyroid during the checkup, parents should act immediately by getting a blood test to confirm whether there is a thyroid problem, and begin hormone treatment to resolve the problem. Brain development "The thyroid hormone is extremely important in the development of the brain of s...

BCM experts, others address mammography, cervical cancer recommendations

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Two Baylor College of Medicine experts will be part of a panel that addresses the controversial federal and professional recommendations on mammography and cervical cancer screening Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 5-7 p.m. at The Museum of Health and Medical Science, 1515 Hermann Dr. Dr. Joslyn W. Fisher, associate professor of medicine and president of the sponsoring Texas Medical Center Women’s Health Network, will moderate the discussion that includes Dr. Virginia Moyer, professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine and member of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force; Dr. Roberta Ness, dean of The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston; Dr. Therese Bevers, medical director of the UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention Center, and Dorothy W. Gibbo...

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Triple negative breast cancer patients needed for further study of new treatment

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Breast cancer patients who have triple negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease, that has spread to other parts of the body, are being asked to participate in a clinical study of a promising new treatment called PARP inhibitors. Researchers from the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine will conduct the study at both the Baylor Clinic and the Harris County Hospital District's Ben Taub General Hospital . “This is a very important study,” said Dr. Mothaffar Rimawi, assistant professor in the Smith Breast Center and the principal investigator of the study. “This type of cancer does not have many therapeutic options, other than standard chemotherapy, and is associated with a very poor chance of recovering when the disease has spread...

Teens turn to new options for birth control

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Teens and young adults who opt for hormonal birth control are bypassing the pill and choosing longer term options like injections and implants, said a Baylor College of Medicine expert on teen sexual health. While these are effective options to prevent pregnancy, they offer no protection against sexually transmitted infections, cautioned Dr. Peggy Smith, director of the Baylor Teen Health Clinic. Two of the more common contraceptives young women choose are Depo-Provera, an injection that lasts 90 days, and Implanon, which is implanted in the arm and provides birth control for three years. “The birth control pill, although it is widely available and once was considered a revolution in contraception, is old technology for today’s teens,” Smith said. “These new options...

Cervical collars can cause secondary injuries in trauma patients

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The application of a cervical collar on a trauma victim can cause more harm to the patient, leading to secondary injuries or even death, according to experts at Baylor College of Medicine in a study that appears in the current online edition of the Journal of Trauma . "Cervical extrication collars are put on about 15 million times a year in the United States alone by emergency medical personnel or doctors in hospitals to protect the cervical spine in case of a bad injury. It is known that after a person has a bad injury, you can create a secondary injury very easily," said Dr. John Hipp , assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at BCM and senior author of the paper. "We have discovered that the cervical collar, in the case of a really bad injury, not only doesn't protect t...

NIH Toughens Rules On Baylor College Of Medicine [Houston Chronicle]

Drugs.com - Pharma News — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:35:47 +0100

From Houston Chronicle (TX) (January 21, 2010) Jan. 21--Baylor College of Medicine researchers are facing tougher federal financial disclosure requirements after the National Institutes of Health learned the Houston school failed to tell them about... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)

Duncan Cancer Center members receive $11.5 million in inaugural state cancer prevention grants

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Researchers from the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine received 12 individual grants totaling $11.5 million in the first round of projects awarded through the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas . CPRIT was established by a 2007 state constitutional amendment that committed $3 billion to fund groundbreaking cancer research prevention programs and services in Texas over the next ten years. Causes, potential treatments The projects, announced Wednesday, will focus on causes and potential treatments for a wide variety of cancers including brain, breast, blood, cervical, colon, liver, lung, ovarian and prostate cancer. "The goal of CPRIT is to fund ground breaking, innovative research and attract the best and brightest scientific minds to Texas in ord...

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Chaperonins prompt proper protein folding

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

In proper society of yesterday, a chaperone ensured that couples maintained appropriate courting rituals. In biology, a group of proteins called chaperonins make sure that proteins are folded properly to carry out their assigned roles in the cells. In a new study in archaea (single-celled organisms without nuclei to enclose their genetic information), a consortium of researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Stanford University in California discovered how the Group II chaperonins close and open folding chambers to initate the folding event and to release the functional protein to the cell. A report of their work appears in the current issue of the journal Nature . Archaea is one of three major divisions in the classification of living organisms. The other two are bacteria and eukary...

Parasitic Wasps' Newly Sequenced Genomes Reveal New Avenues for Pest Control, Provides Insights into Evolution, Genetics

NHGRI-Related News — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:00:00 +0100

: Parasitic wasps kill pest insects, but their existence is largely unknown to the public. Now, scientists led by John H. Werren, professor of biology at the University of Rochester, and Stephen Richards at the Genome Sequencing Center at the Baylor College of Medicine have sequenced the genomes of three parasitoid wasp species, revealing many features that could be useful to pest control and medicine, and to enhance our understanding of genetics and evolution. NHGRI helped fund the research. The study appears in the January 15 issue of Science. (Source: NHGRI-Related News)

Genome of parasitic wasps provides clues to pest control, quantitative genetics

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The newly sequenced genome of three kinds of parasitic wasp provides new clues about how species diverge, the elements of the insects' venom that could become new drugs and the wasp's possible use in pest control, said members of the international Nasonia Genome Working Group led by Dr. Stephen Richards from Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. John (Jack) Werren at the University of Rochester in New York. "The wasps – Nasonia vitripennis, N. giraulti and N. longicornis – are a model for parasitic wasps in general," said Richards, assistant professor in the BCM Human Genome Sequencing Center and a corresponding author of the report that appears in the current issue of the journal Science . Important Role "Parasitoids are important in keeping insect numbers down in ...

Gene transfer method opens door to new research

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Inserting gene sequences in cultured cell lines is a main component of biomedical research, but inserting large sequences or multiple genes at the same time has been difficult. Now, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine , the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., have harnessed a plasmid-based "jumping gene" system called piggyBac transposon to accomplish this in a stable fashion, opening doors for new drug therapies for a variety of diseases, including cancer. The findings appear in the online addition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . "Until now, to insert multiple genes into cells, we had to use a number of different viruses as vectors to take the genes into the cell. Even when we tried to make these ce...

Jan. 15 Cullen symposium focuses on translational research

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The third annual Cullen Trust for Higher Education Symposium on Translational Research will kick off Friday, Jan. 15 from 4-5:30 p.m. in Onstead Auditorium and foyer, 3rd floor, George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building (BSRB), 6767 Bertner St., Houston, Texas 77030. This symposium will highlight the outstanding translational research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and Baylor College of Medicine, and is open to all faculty, students and community friends. Keynote speakers and topics are: Huda Y. Zoghbi, M.D., investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute; professor, Departments of Pediatrics, Molecular and Human Genetics, Neurology and Neuroscience, BCM: Understanding the Pathogenesis of ...

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Rice U, Baylor College of Medicine nix merger

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:53:09 +0100

Ten months after signing a memorandum of understanding, Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have called off their possible merger. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Tumor Blood Supply May Be Cut Off By Blocking Nuclear Receptor

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0100

Tumor Blood Supply May Be Cut Off By Blocking Nuclear Receptor

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0100

What Is My Goal? Expected Weight Loss and Comorbidity Outcomes Among Bariatric Surgery Patients

Obesity Surgery — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:47:42 +0100

Conclusion A dissatisfaction with obesity-related comorbidities, most notably hypertension and urinary incontinence, was a motivating factor in choosing to undergo bariatric surgery. Patients expected improvement in their comorbid illnesses; however, they still possessed unrealistic weight loss expectations for their intended weight loss procedure. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Clinical ResearchDOI 10.1007/s11695-009-0060-zAuthors Shahzeer Karmali, University of Alberta Center for the Advancement of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of General Surgery Edmonton CanadaHuseyin Kadikoy, Baylor College of Medicine Comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Center, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery 1709 Dryden, Suite 1500 Houston TX 77030 USAMary L. Brandt, Baylor C...

Baylor recruits game kids for Wii study

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine is looking for a few good kids ... to play video games. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

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Spencer Berthelsen

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

joined the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic 29 years ago after completing his residency in internal medicine at the University of California at San Diego. He currently is the managing director and chairman of the board at the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston. Kelsey-Seybold is a multispecialty group practice comprised of 350 physicians in 18 locations throughout the greater Houston area. Berthelsen has served in various leadership capacities within Kelsey-Seybold including chairman of the department of internal medicine, medical director for primary care and medical director for managed care. His responsibilities have included medical liaison with affiliated health plans, utilization management, clinical practice guideline development and physician education regarding managed care. Berthelsen also m...

Baylor recruits game kids for Wii study

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The Children’s Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine is looking for a few good kids ... to play video games. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Spencer Berthelsen

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Blocking nuclear receptor may cut off tumor blood supply

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

A new method of blocking the genesis of blood vessels that feed tumors may start with the nuclear receptor COUP-TFII (chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II), said a pair of Baylor College of Medicine researchers who have studied the factor for more than 20 years. In a report that went online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , a team led by Dr. Ming-Jer Tsai and Dr. Sophia Y. Tsai , both professors of molecular and cellular biology at BCM, described experiments in which the growth of new blood vessels and tumors themselves were suppressed when COUP-TFII was not present. The work demonstrates that the receptor directly regulates an angiogenic factor called Angiopoietin-1, which enhances the development of new blood vessels. (Angiogenesis mean...

Computer-Assisted Quantitative Evaluation of Therapeutic Responses for Lymphoma Using Serial PET/CT Imaging

Academic Radiology — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: These data support a role for LINA in facilitating quantitative analysis of serial PET/CT images to efficiently assess cancer treatment responses in a comprehensive and intuitive software platform. (Source: Academic Radiology)

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[News Focus] Research Institutions: Plan to Merge Texas Schools Runs Into Faculty Opposition

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:51:26 +0100

Baylor College of Medicine, seeking financial security, is considering joining with nearby Rice University, but Rice faculty members have challenged the plan.Author: Jocelyn Kaiser (Source: Science: Current Issue)

VGX Animal Health's Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Shows Advantages Compared To Current Growth Hormone Therapies Used In Pigs

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0100

This study was conducted by VGX Animal Health scientists in conjunction with the Children's Nutrition Research Center, a cooperative venture between Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital and the U... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

2009 Nobel Laureate in chemistry to lecture at University of Houston

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Houston) Professor Ada Yonath, the 2009 Laureate in Chemistry, will discuss "The Amazing Ribosome" in a lecture at noon, Jan. 15 in the Rockwell Pavilion of the M.D. Anderson Library on the University of Houston campus. The event is sponsored by the Texas Learning and Computation Center at UH, the National Center for Macromolecular Imaging at Baylor College of Medicine and the Gulf Coast Consortium (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Never too late to get flu vaccine

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

It's not too late to be vaccinated against the seasonal and H1N1 influenza viruses, say experts at Baylor College of Medicine . "The seasonal flu usually picks up a few weeks after school resumes from the winter holidays, so this is an important time to get vaccinated," said Dr. Paul Glezen, professor of molecular virology and microbiology at BCM. H3N2 variant Although the H1N1 virus was more prominent in the last few months, Glezen says that right now, H1N1 activity is slow. Experts are currently concerned about a new variant of the H3N2 virus, which was present in the Southern Hemisphere during their epidemic season. "The seasonal influenza vaccine does not contain the new H3N2 variant since it appeared after the vaccine formula was set, but it can provide partial protecti...

BCM tackles Alzheimer's on all fronts

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

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Role of nitric oxide, Src kinases in lung cancer could provide treatment answer

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The interaction of enzymes – especially the tyrosine kinases called Src and inducible nitric oxide synthase – plays an important role in the growth of non-small cell lung cancers, the most common form of this deadly disease in the United States, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report in the Journal of Biological Chemistry . Such cancers require activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor, said Dr. Tony Eissa , professor of medicine – pulmonary, at BCM. Treatment with drugs that block that receptor – such as erlotinib – rapidly shrinks tumors, but often temporarily. "This response is often followed by disease recurrence because the epidermal growth factor receptors mutate and become resistant to the drug," he said. "I...

Honoring Leslie A. Geddes - Farewell ...

BioMedical Engineering OnLine — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Leslie Alexander Geddes took off on a long, long trip, Sunday October 25, 2009, leaving his body for medical and research use. The departing station was West Lafayette, Indiana, where he set foot in 1974, at Purdue University, stamping there a unique deep imprint, similar and probably more profound than the one left at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Houston, Texas, in the period 1955-1974. Memories came back as a flood the minute after a message broke the news to me: When I first met him visiting the Department of Physiology at BCM back in 1962, my first Classical Physiology with Modern Instrumentation Summer Course ... The versatile Physiograph was the main equipment, an electronic-mechanical three or four channel recorder that could pick up a variety of physiological variables. Les an...

Techniques for Labia Minora Reduction: An Algorithmic Approach

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:28:45 +0100

Conclusion The authors found all three techniques for labia minora reduction to be useful in different clinical situations. A novel algorithm is described for matching the optimal surgical technique for each patient based on her degree of hypertrophy and aesthetic goals. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00266-009-9454-5Authors Warren A. Ellsworth, Baylor College of Medicine, Clinical Care Center Division of Plastic Surgery 6701 Fannin, CC 610.00 Houston TX 77030 USAMort Rizvi, The Methodist Hospital Division of Plastic Surgery Houston TX USAMichael Lypka, The Methodist Hospital Division of Plastic Surgery Houston TX USAMark Gaon, The Methodist Hospital Division of Plastic Surgery Houston TX USABruce Smith, The Methodist Hospital Divisi...

Keep winter skin at bay

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Just because the temperatures are dropping doesn't mean you should drop your skin care routine. Dermatologists at Baylor College of Medicine say continuing to wear sun block and moisturizers during the colder months is important for healthy skin year round. "It's very common to have dry skin during winter due to the colder, drier weather and the use of heaters," said Dr. John Wolf , professor and chair of dermatology at BCM. "Going untreated, dry skin could lead to discomfort or even an itchy, painful rash known as winter itch." Trap moisture The key to prevention is moisturizing the skin. Wolf recommends starting with a lukewarm shower using a mild soap for sensitive skin. Before completely drying off, apply lotion or hand cream to damp skin. "This traps moisture ...

Virus, cancer drug extends life of animal model with aggressive brain tumor

Baylor College of Medicine News — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

When combined, a virus that targets cancer cells and a commonly used cancer drug have been found to significantly extend the life expectancy and shrink the tumor of rats carrying malignant gliomas, an aggressive brain tumor, say researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and McGill University in Montreal. The findings are published in the current edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . "On average, half of those diagnosed with malignant gliomas live for about one year, and there is no cure," said Dr. Mauro Costa-Mattioli, assistant professor of neuroscience at BCM and co-author of the study. "What we have found in rats so far is a new way to extend the life expectancy and destroy cancer cells, which also gives us direction toward a possible cu...

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Baylor College of Medicine researcher receives cancer grant

bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:26:55 +0100

A Baylor College of Medicine researcher is one of the first recipients of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer ‘A’ Awards. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Health Insurance headlines)

Baylor College of Medicine researcher receives cancer grant

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:26:55 +0100

Healthy New Year's resolutions should include children

Baylor College of Medicine News — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Parents can help their children start a healthy new year by extending personal resolutions about better diet and exercise to their families, said a pediatrician at Baylor College of Medicine . "New Year's is a time when a lot of adult thoughts turn to health and fitness," said Dr. Sara Rizvi, assistant professor of pediatrics at BCM and Texas Children's Hospital. "This is an ideal time for parents to extend these health resolutions to their children." Rizvi outlined a few resolutions that might help your whole family build and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat more fruits, veggies If the whole family is eating more fruits and veggies, your kids will be more likely to eat them as well. Planning shopping trips to the local farmer's market, visiting a farm where the fruits...

Healthier living in 2010

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

Volunteers needed for Wii video game study

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

The Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine is recruiting children between the ages of 9 and 12 years for a six-month study to understand the different ways in which children play video games. To qualify for the study, children must: Be able to speak, understand, read and write English Have no medical problems, such as epileptic seizures that would prevent them from playing video games Not have a family history of epileptic seizures Parents must be willing to allow the child to play the video games and the household must not currently own a Wii video game console. Volunteers will be compensated for their time. For more information, call Marilyn at 713-798-7002. (Source: Baylor College of Medicine News)

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Pazopanib for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and other malignancies - Abstract

UroToday — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. (Source: UroToday)

Confidence is key to fulfillment as we age

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

It's common for older adults to have doubts about their ability to participate in certain activities. However, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine, building confidence can help older adults live life to the fullest. "One of the most important ways to build confidence is to be fit," said Dr. Robert Roush, associate professor of medicine – geriatrics at BCM. "Older adults should exercise and engage in resistance weight training. The capacity to maintain health and vigor will build confidence." Roush, also a part of the Huffington Center on Aging at BCM, said that older adults should not let anxiety stop them from enjoying pastimes such as bowling, traveling or learning a new language. They can still do them, but to a somewhat different degree, depen...

“Chopstick” surgery: a novel technique improves surgeon performance and eliminates arm collision in robotic single-incision laparoscopic surgery

Surgical Endoscopy — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:57:02 +0100

Conclusion Chopstick surgery significantly enhances the functionality of the surgical robot when working through a small single incision. This technique will enable surgeons to utilize the robot for SILS and possibly for intraluminal or transluminal surgery. Content Type Journal ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00464-009-0769-8Authors Rohan A. Joseph, Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education (MITIE™), Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University Department of Surgery, The Methodist Hospital 6550 Fannin St, SM 1661 Houston TX 77030 USAAlvin C. Goh, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Urology Houston TX USASebastian P. Cuevas, Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education (MITIE™), Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University ...

Validation of ICD-9-CM Diagnostic Codes for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Among Veterans

Digestive Diseases and Sciences — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:47:49 +0100

Conclusion VA administrative data can diagnose elderly and non-white patients with IBD. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s10620-009-1074-zAuthors Selvi Thirumurthi, Houston Center for Quality of Care & Utilization Studies Section of Health Services Research Houston TX USAReezwana Chowdhury, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division 1709 Dryden Street, Suite 800 Houston TX 77030 USAPeter Richardson, Houston Center for Quality of Care & Utilization Studies Section of Health Services Research Houston TX USANeena S. Abraham, Houston Center for Quality of Care & Utilization Studies Section of Health Services Research Houston TX USA Journal Digestive Diseases and SciencesOnline ISSN 1573-...

Tests of the Accuracy and Speed of Categorizing Foods into Child vs Professional Categories Using Two Methods of Browsing with Children

Journal of the American Dietetic Association — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:42:44 +0100

Abstract: This research tested whether children could categorize foods more accurately and speedily when presented with child-generated rather than professionally generated food categories, and whether a graphically appealing browse procedure similar to the Apple iTunes (Cupertino, CA) “cover flow” graphical user interface accomplished this better than the more common tree-view structure. In Fall 2008, 104 multiethnic children ages 8 to 13 were recruited at the Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX) and randomly assigned to two browse procedures: cover flow (collages of foods in a category) or tree view (food categories in a list). Within each browse condition children categorized the same randomly ordered 26 diverse foods to both child and professionally organized categories (with m...

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Custom selection of aspheric intraocular lenses after wavefront-guided myopic photorefractive keratectomy

Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:48:37 +0100

Conclusion: The amount of IOL spherical aberration producing the best image quality after previous myopic wavefront-guided PRK varied widely and could be predicted based on the full spectrum of corneal HOAs.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Hui Zheng named director of Huffington Center on Aging

Baylor College of Medicine News — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Dr. Hui Zheng , a professor of molecular and human genetics, neuroscience and molecular and cellular biology at Baylor College of Medicine , has been named director of the college's Huffington Center on Aging . The appointment was made by the college this week. Zheng has served on faculty in the Huffington Center since joining the college in 1999. Along with her appointments in genetics, neuroscience and cell biology, she is also part of the Interdepartmental Programs of Developmental Biology, Cellular and Molecular Biology and Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine. "The Huffington Center's central focus on geriatric issues has contributed a wealth of new information and improved clinical care since its beginnings in 1988," said Interim President … (Source: Baylor Co...

Tracking nanoparticles in the human body

Physics Today News Picks — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Physics Today: Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have created a single nanoparticle that can be tracked in real time with MRI as it homes in on cancer cells, tags them with a fluorescent dye and kills them with heat. The all-in-one particle is one of the first examples from a growing field called "theranostics" that develops technologies physicians can use to diagnose and treat diseases in a single procedure. The research is available online in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. Tests so far involve laboratory cell cultures, but the researchers said MRI tracking will be particularly advantageous as they move toward tests in animals and people. "Some of the most essential questions in nanomedicine today are about biodistribution—where...

Master Gene Math1 Controls Framework For Perceiving External And Internal Body Parts

Health News from Medical News Today — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

Waking and walking to the bathroom in the pitch black of night requires brain activity that is both conscious and unconscious and requires a single master gene known as Math1 or Atoh1, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers in a report that appears online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Master Gene Math1 Controls Framework For Perceiving External And Internal Body Parts

Genetics News From Medical News Today — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0100

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Nominations Open for the 2010 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research (Dec 17, 2009)

Johnson and Johnson — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:34:29 +0100

New Brunswick, NJ (December 17, 2009) -- The Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research has opened the 2010 call for nominations. The $100,000 Award recognizes individuals whose efforts have made significant transformational contributions towards the improvement of human health. Nomination forms are available at pauljanssenaward.com and will be accepted until February 15, 2010. The Award winner is chosen by an independent selection committee of the world's top scientists, which features three new members this year: Robert Langer, Sc.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, past Award winner Axel Ullrich, Ph.D., Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, and Huda Zoghbi, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine..... (Source: Johnson and Johnson)

Tracking New Cancer-Killing Particles With MRI

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have created a single nanoparticle that can be tracked in real time with MRI as it homes in on cancer cells, tags them with a fluorescent dye and kills them with heat. The all-in-one particle is one of the first examples from a growing field called "theranostics" that develops technologies physicians can use to diagnose and treat diseases in a single procedure. The research is available online in the journal Advanced Functional Materials... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Tracking New Cancer-Killing Particles With MRI

Cancer / Oncology News From Medical News Today — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Tracking New Cancer-Killing Particles With MRI

MRI / PET / Ultrasound News From Medical News Today — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:00:00 +0100

Drug Kills Breast Tumor Cells After Chemo

Cancercompass News: Breast Cancer — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

U.S. medical researchers say they've developed an experimental cancer drug that kills breast tumor cells that survive chemotherapy. Dr. Jenny Chang of the Baylor College of Medicine and a lead investigator of the research, along with scientists from the University of Michigan, said in both animal and patient studies the drug eliminated chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer stem cells -- cells that could potentially refuel tumor growth. (Source: Cancercompass News: Breast Cancer)

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Tracking Cancer Killing Particles with MRI

Disabled World — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:41:31 +0100

Tracking new cancer-killing particles with MRI

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

(Rice University) Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine have created a single nanoparticle that can be tracked in real time with MRI as it homes in on cancer cells, tags them with a fluorescent dye and kills them with heat. The all-in-one particle is one of the first examples from a growing field called "theranostics" that develops technologies physicians can use to diagnose and treat diseases in a single procedure. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Master gene Math1 controls framework for perceiving external, internal body parts

Baylor College of Medicine News — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Waking and walking to the bathroom in the darkness of night requires brain activity that is both conscious and unconscious and requires a single master gene known as Math1 or Atoh1, said Baylor College of Medicine researchers in a report that appears online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . Math1 is a master hub for the genes that control various parts of neural networks for hearing, balance, the unconscious sense of one's position in space called proprioception and in a new finding, interoception, which is associated with activities such as awakening because of a full bladder or a distended colon, said Dr. Huda Zoghbi , professor of molecular and human genetics, pediatrics, neurology and neuroscience at BCM and Dr. Matthew Rose, a developmental biology M.D./Ph.D. st...

Osteonecrosis secondary to antiphospholipid syndrome: a case report, review of the literature, and treatment strategy

Rheumatology International — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 14:16:09 +0100

In this report, we further discuss the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis and current understanding of the treatment of this disease. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Review ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00296-009-1269-9Authors Waqar Haque, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, BCM 620 Houston TX 77030 USAHuseyin Kadikoy, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, BCM 620 Houston TX 77030 USAOmar Pacha, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, BCM 620 Houston TX 77030 USAJoseph Maliakkal, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, BCM 620 Houston TX 77030 USAVu Hoang, Baylor College of Medicine Department of Medicine One Baylor Plaza, BCM 620 Houston TX 77030 USAAbdul Abdellatif, Baylor Co...

Baylor College of Medicine student elected to American Medical Association board

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:14:05 +0100

Baylor College of Medicine student Meredith Williams has been elected as the only medical student to serve on the American Medical Association board. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Baylor College of Medicine student elected to American Medical Association board

bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:14:05 +0100

Experimental drug targets chemo-resistant breast cancer stem cells

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

In animal and patient studies, an experimental drug eliminated chemotherapy-resistant breast cancer stem cells – the cells that remain after treatment that could potentially refuel tumor growth, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor today at the CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium . "In previous studies, we have identified a genetic pathway – called the Notch pathway – as a top target for eliminating these tumor-initiating, breast cancer stem cells," said Dr. Jenny Chang, medical director of the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at BCM and a lead investigator of the study. "Now, we have found a compound that inhibits activation of this pathway, reducing the number of tumor-initiating or cance...

M.D./M.B.A student elected to American Medical Association board

Baylor College of Medicine News — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Meredith Williams, a student in the M.D./MBA program at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University, has been elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She is the only medical student on the 21-member board, which makes decisions for the AMA's quarter-of-a-million physician and medical student members. The association's mission is to help patients by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional and public health issues as they shape the future of medicine. Student connector Williams was elected by representatives of the nearly 50,000 members of the AMA-Medical Student Section, which she will represent on the board. The AMA-MSS is the nation's most influential organization of medical students, and Williams said she intends to serve as a &q...

H1N1 Unexpected Weakness

Disabled World — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:58:41 +0100

The H1N1 influenza virus has been keeping a secret that may be the key to defeating it and other flu viruses as well. Researchers at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have found what they believe is a weakness in H1N1's method for evading detection by the immune system. (Source: Disabled World)